HAMMOND, Ind. — Purdue Northwest recorded another walk-off win, followed by a career day from
Selena Michko (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central) at the plate to lead a Game 2 victory, as the Pride pulled out a doubleheader sweep over Parkside Wednesday at RUSH Physical Therapy Field.
PNW improved to 15-5 overall and won its fifth straight GLIAC game to move into first place in the conference standings at 5-1. It's the best start through 20 games in program history.
The Pride have won 10 of their previous 11 contests and return right back to action Thursday at home against Lewis, who is riding a seven-game win streak. PNW also recorded its fifth walk-off win of the season with eight of the squad's 15 victories decided by one run.
GAME 1: PURDUE NORTHWEST 5, PARKSIDE 4
The Pride built a 4-1 lead with a run in the third and tacked on three more in the next inning after the Rangers tied the game in the top half of the fourth.
Amanda Noblett (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) drove a two-run double off the left-field fence and ended up rounding the bases to cross home plate after a throwing error on the relay. She recorded two hits with a double in both games of the doubleheader.
However, Parkside countered with back-to-back RBI knocks with two outs in the fifth to even the score at 4-4.
Starter
Emma Hill (Holmes Beach, Fla./Cary-Grove (IL)) went six-and-two-thirds in the no-decision with seven strikeouts. She retired nine of the first 10 batters she faced until surrendering a leadoff single in the fourth. The Rangers recorded all five of their hits combined across the fourth and fifth frames, but threatened with a pair of runners in scoring position in the seventh following two walks and an error. That's when
Abbie May (LaSalle, Ill./Saint Bede Academy) took the circle and needed just two pitches to slam the door.
In the bottom of the seventh,
Aubrey Shroyer (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon) sparked the rally with a leadoff walk and would score from first soon after on heads up base running.
Ashley Bravo (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) stepped in next and put down a sacrifice bunt. Shroyer didn't hesitate to take an extra base with nobody covering and the Rangers threw the ball away trying to nab her at third which allowed Shroyer to slide into home plate for the winning win.
GAME 2: PURDUE NORTHWEST 9, PARKSIDE 4
Designated player
Selena Michko (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central) posted a career-high 4-for-4 outing with four RBIs, including two extra-base hits to power the offense in Game 2. Michko's RBI double in the third tied the game at 1-1 after a leadoff home run from Parkside to open the game.
Madison Schultz (Lafayette, Ind./Faith Christian) followed that up with an RBI single and
Jocey Gault (West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison) drove a run-scoring double to left center to give the Pride a 3-1 lead. Gault then swiped third on a steal and ended up scoring on a throwing error to make it 4-1 PNW after three complete.
Parkside added a solo shot in the fourth, but Michko and Schultz supplied more runs with back-to-back RBI singles in the bottom half which put the Pride in front, 6-2. The Rangers added another two-run blast in the sixth, but again the Pride responded with three runs thanks to Michko's sixth home run of the season — a two-run shot to center — and Noblett's RBI double later in the frame made it 9-4.
PNW outhit Parkside 11-7 in the second game with Michko, Bravo (2 for 3, 3 R), Schultz (2 for 4, 2 RBI, 2 R), Noblett (2 for 4, RBI) and Gault (1 for 4, RBI, R) leading the way.
Maddison Roop (Hudson, Ill./University) made the start inside the circle and tossed five-and-a-third with four strikeouts, earning her third win of the season (3-2). The right-hander surrendered four earned runs on six hits with three walks and a hit batter.
Gabby Paliska (Palos Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way East (Wisconsin-Green Bay)) came on to seal the win and picked up her first save.
UP NEXT
First pitch in the opening game against Lewis is slated for 1 p.m. CDT at RUSH Physical Therapy Field tomorrow afternoon.
FOLLOW THE PRIDE
For all the latest information on Purdue Northwest Softball, please visit PNWathletics.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Pride (@pnwathletics / @PNWSoftball) on Twitter. You can also find the Pride on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
