The Purdue Northwest Softball team opened play at the USSSA Space Coast Spring Games on Thursday afternoon in Florida, splitting a pair of games. The Pride dominated Northern State in six innings, 9-1, before their late comeback attempt fell short in a 5-4 loss to D'Youville in the nightcap.

The Basics

• Records: Purdue Northwest (8-6), Northern State (6-3), D'Youville (8-6)
• Location: Melbourne, Florida

Game 1
The Breakdown

• Senior Grace Wilson (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) led the Pride offense with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, scoring three runs and driving in three while collecting two doubles.
• Sophomore Jadyn Ramer (Lafayette, Ind./Harrison) also had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base.
• Freshman Gracie Jensen (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic) added two hits and two runs scored, while Jessy Del Toro (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) finished with two hits and a walk.
• Sophomore Kylie Madura (Munster, Ind./Munster) recorded a hit and an RBI, and Emma Fair (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) drove in a run during the victory.
• Freshman Chloe Tanner (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) earned the win in the circle after delivering a dominant complete-game performance, allowing just one run on one hit over six innings while striking out three and walking two.
• Purdue Northwest opened the scoring in the second inning when Ramer singled and advanced around the bases on a throw and an error, allowing Grace Wilson (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) to score.
• The Pride extended the lead in the fourth inning as Wilson delivered a two-run double to left center before later stealing home to make the score 4-0.
• Northern State's only run came in the fifth inning on a solo home run from Emma Owens.
• PNW responded with a four-run fifth inning behind RBI contributions from Madura, Fair, Wilson and Ramer to extend the lead to 8-1.
• The Pride ended the game in the sixth inning when Del Toro stole home to secure the 9-1 run-rule victory.

Game 2
The Breakdown

• Junior Kylie Dugan (Buck Creek, Ind./William Henry Harrison) led the Pride offense with two hits and an RBI while adding a stolen base.
• Sophomore Jadyn Ramer (Lafayette, Ind./Harrison) finished with two hits and an RBI, and Grace Wilson (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) added a double and an RBI.
• Freshman Gracie Jensen (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic) and sophomore Kylie Madura (Munster, Ind./Munster) each scored a run, while Madura also recorded a stolen base.
• Sophomore Abbey Bond (Saint John, Ind./Andrean) took the loss in the circle after allowing four runs on seven hits across four innings while striking out two.
• Senior Hailie Charmat (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) provided relief, tossing two innings and allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout.
• D'Youville struck first in the opening inning with an RBI triple from Danielle Fenlong to take a 1-0 lead.
• The Saints added another run in the fourth inning on an RBI double by Jorja Sandilands to extend the lead to 2-0.
• Purdue Northwest tied the game in the fifth inning when Dugan delivered an RBI single and Madura later stole home.
• D'Youville answered with a three-run fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Mikayla Hussar, to regain a 5-2 advantage.
• The Pride rallied in the sixth inning as Wilson doubled home Jensen before Ramer followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 5-4.
• PNW threatened again late, but D'Youville held on to secure the one-run victory.

Up Next

• Purdue Northwest continues play at the USSSA Space Coast Spring Games on Friday with another doubleheader in Melbourne, Florida.