The Purdue Northwest Softball team closed out play at the Lewis Dome Invitational on Sunday in Rosemont, Illinois, earning a dominant shutout victory against William Jewell, 11-0, before falling in a tight walk-off battle to the host Lewis, 5-4.
The Basics
- Records: Purdue Northwest (3-2), William Jewell (1-9), Lewis (3-6)
- Location: The Dome – Rosemont, Illinois
Game 1
The Breakdown
- Purdue Northwest exploded for 11 runs on 13 hits in a five-inning, 11-0 shutout of William Jewell.
- Freshman Jessy Del Toro (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) powered the offense with three hits, including two doubles, and four RBIs.
- Junior Kylie Dugan (Buck Creek, Ind./William Henry Harrison) added two hits, scored twice and drove in a run, while senior Amanda DeBoer (Dyer, Ind./Illiana Christian) finished with two hits, an RBI and two stolen bases.
- Junior Emma Fair (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) reached base twice, recording a hit and a walk with an RBI and a run scored.
- Sophomore Madison Ecker (Shiloh, Ill./O'Fallon Township) scored twice and drove in a run, and freshman Mercedes Szakacs (Portage, Ind./Boone Grove) delivered an RBI single off the bench.
- Sophomore Jordyn Roop (Hudson, Ill./University) earned the win in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just three hits with two strikeouts and no runs over 5.0 innings.
- The Pride scored in four of the five innings and capitalized on three William Jewell errors, with six of their 11 runs going down as unearned.
- PNW opened the scoring in the first on an RBI single from Olivia Hernandez (Aurora, Ill./Aurora Central Catholic) to take a 1-0 lead.
- A two-run double from Del Toro in the second extended the advantage to 3-0.
- The Pride broke the game open with a seven-run third inning, highlighted by run-scoring hits from Fair, Ecker, Del Toro and DeBoer.
- PNW added one more in the fourth on an RBI single from Szakacs to cap the scoring at 11-0.
- The Pride defense was flawless, committing no errors and turning a double play behind Roop.
Game 2
The Breakdown
- Purdue Northwest collected 12 hits but fell just short in a 5-4 walkoff loss to Lewis.
- Fair led the Pride with two hits, including an RBI single in the first inning.
- Senior Grace Wilson (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) provided a spark off the bench with two hits and a run scored.
- Senior Gracie Jensen (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic) tallied two hits and drove in a run, while Ecker doubled and recorded an RBI.
- Sophomore Kylie Madura (Munster, Ind./Munster) delivered a key RBI single in the seventh as PNW rallied late.
- Sophomore Abbey Bond (Saint John, Ind./Andrean) started in the circle, allowing four runs over 5.1 innings with three strikeouts.
- Senior Hailie Charmat (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) took the loss in relief after surrendering the deciding run in the seventh.
- The Pride struck first in the opening frame when Fair singled home Amanda DeBoer (Dyer, Ind./Illiana Christian) for a 1-0 lead.
- Lewis answered in the bottom half, tying the game at 1-1.
- After a scoreless stretch, Ecker's RBI ground-rule double in the sixth gave PNW a 2-1 edge.
- Lewis responded with a three-run sixth inning to take a 4-2 lead.
- PNW battled back in the seventh, as Madura singled home a run and Jensen followed with an RBI single to even the score at 4-4.
- In the bottom of the seventh, Lewis secured the win on a walkoff RBI single.
Up Next
- Purdue Northwest now travels to compete in the Oasis Softball Invitational starting on Friday, February 27 when they take on UMSL at 1:30 PM CT in Marion, Illinois.