Sandusky, Ohio – Freshman Courtney Blackwell (Whiting, Ind./Whiting), went the distance (8-8) tossing 7 innings with 5 hits, two runs (one earned), three walks and three strikes to help lead the Purdue University Northwest softball team to a 7-2 victory over Ferris State University (Mich.) in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) softball tournament action Friday afternoon at the Sports Force Parks in Sandusky, Ohio. The Pride managed just three hits in a 12-1 loss in six inning in game one of the tournament to Tiffin University (Ohio).
The Pride jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on an RBI double by sophomore Emma Hendricks (Henryville, Ind./Henryville) in the bottom of the second inning after freshman Alexis Madrigal (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) drew a two-out walk. PNW exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Taylor Kotzo (Munster, Ind./Munster) got the inning rolling with an RBI single to center and Madrigal drew a bases loaded walk. The inning was highlighted by a pair of two-run singles by junior Zoee Anderson (Lafayette, Ind./St. Joseph's College/Lafayette Jefferson) and sophomore Taylor Mendenhall (Brownsburg, Ind./St. Joseph's College/Brownsburg). The Bulldogs would score a pair of runs in the top of the sixth on an RBI triple and a throwing error.
In game one, Purdue Northwest struck first when senior Kyleigh Payne (Bourbonnais, Ill./Kankakee CC/Bishop McNamara) crushed her 11th home run of the year to deep left center to give PWN a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. However, the Dragons would respond with three runs in the top of the fifth to go up 3-1. TU batted around in the top of the sixth and scored nine times to take a 12-1 lead. Freshman Samantha Burgard (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South) took the loss (3-3) lasting 5.1 innings surrendering nine hits, eight runs (six earned) and recorded two strikeouts. Junior Mia Stevens (Wheatfield, Ind./South Suburban CC/Kankakee Valley) logged 0.2 innings of relief allowing three hits and four runs (two earned).
Purdue Northwest (26-25 overall/15-17 GLIAC) will continue play in the GLIAC softball tournament on Saturday, May 5, with a 10 am (eastern) match-up with the loser of Davenport University (Mich.) and Saginaw Valley State University (Mich.) at Sports Force Parks in Sandusky, Ohio.
