Purdue University Northwest

The Purdue Northwest Softball team dropped a pair of hard-fought GLIAC contests on the road against conference leader Saginaw Valley State on Sunday afternoon, falling 6-1 in Game 1 before coming up short in a 5-3 decision in Game 2.

The Basics

• Records: Purdue Northwest (25-21, 11-11 GLIAC), Saginaw Valley State (31-13, 20-4 GLIAC)
• Location: SVSU Softball Field - University Center, Michigan
• Attendance: 296

Game 1
The Breakdown

• Saginaw Valley State scored six runs on nine hits, using timely extra-base hits to create separation late in the game.
• Purdue Northwest was limited to one run on six hits while committing three defensive errors.
• Freshman Charli Westerfield (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville Community) led the Pride offense with two hits, including a solo home run for the team's lone run.
• Junior Kylie Dugan (Buck Creek, Ind./William Henry Harrison), freshman Gracie Jensen (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic), sophomore Jadyn Ramer (Lafayette, Ind./William Henry Harrison), and junior Emma Fair (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) each recorded a hit.
• Sophomore Jordyn Roop (Hudson, Ill./University) started in the circle, allowing three runs (two earned) over four innings, while sophomore Abbey Bond (Saint John, Ind./Andrean) worked two innings in relief.
• Aalana Kimble led Saginaw Valley State with three hits, two RBIs, and three runs scored.
• Kimble also earned the complete-game victory, allowing one run while striking out six.
• Purdue Northwest struck first in the third inning as Westerfield launched a solo home run to give the Pride a 1-0 lead.
• Saginaw Valley responded in the bottom of the third with a two-run triple to take a 2-1 advantage.
• The Cardinals added an unearned run in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 3-1.
• Saginaw Valley broke the game open in the sixth inning with three more runs, highlighted by a two-run triple, to make it 6-1.
• The Pride were unable to generate a late rally as the Cardinals secured the 6-1 win.

Game 2
The Breakdown

• Purdue Northwest totaled 11 hits in the contest but was limited to three runs in a tightly contested game.
• Freshman Jessy Del Toro (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) and sophomore Kylie Madura (Munster, Ind./Munster) each recorded two hits, while Jensen and Fair also added multi-hit performances.
• Senior Amanda DeBoer (Dyer, Ind./Illiana Christian) drove in two runs, while Madura added an RBI double as part of the Pride offense.
• Senior Hailie Charmat (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) started in the circle, allowing five runs over five innings, while sophomore Kendra Steinberg (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) added a scoreless inning in relief.
• Saginaw Valley State collected nine hits and capitalized on key moments, including a three-run home run in the opening inning.
• Macy Irelan earned the complete-game victory, allowing three runs on 11 hits while striking out 10.
• Saginaw Valley jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning on a three-run home run.
• Purdue Northwest responded in the second inning as Madura delivered an RBI double to cut the deficit to 3-1.
• The Pride tied the game in the fourth inning, scoring two runs on a DeBoer RBI single and a run scoring on an error to make it 3-3.
• Saginaw Valley answered in the fifth inning with a two-run double to regain the lead at 5-3.
• Purdue Northwest continued to threaten late but was unable to push across additional runs as the Cardinals held on for the 5-3 victory.

Up Next

• Purdue Northwest continues GLIAC play when they host Grand Valley State in their final home series of the season on Friday, May 1. The doubleheader is set for 1:00 PM CT at Dowling Park in Hammond, Indiana.