Purdue University Northwest

The Purdue Northwest Softball team split its final home GLIAC doubleheader of the season against Grand Valley State on Saturday afternoon, falling in a 9-6 heartbreaker in Game 1 before bouncing back with a dominant 9-1 run-rule victory in Game 2.

The Basics

• Records: Purdue Northwest (26-22, 12-12 GLIAC), Grand Valley State (25-22, 16-10 GLIAC)
• Location: Hammond, Indiana
• Attendance: 150

Game 1
The Breakdown

• Grand Valley State scored nine runs on 14 hits, using a big second inning and late insurance runs to secure the win.
• Purdue Northwest finished with six runs on 12 hits, with multiple players contributing offensively.
• Freshman Gracie Jensen (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic) led the Pride with four hits and two RBIs, including a first-inning home run.
• Senior Amanda DeBoer (Dyer, Ind./Illiana Christian) added two hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs, while senior Olivia Hernandez (Aurora, Ill./Aurora Central Catholic) chipped in with two hits and a solo home run.
• Sophomore Kylie Madura (Munster, Ind./Munster) recorded a hit and an RBI, while junior Kylie Dugan (Buck Creek, Ind./William Henry Harrison) scored twice and reached base multiple times.
• Senior Hailie Charmat (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) started in the circle, while sophomore Kendra Steinberg (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) took the loss despite allowing just three runs (none earned) over 5.1 innings in relief.
• Eliana Eiland led Grand Valley State with two hits, including a home run, and four RBIs.
• Karli Dorr started on the mound for the Lakers going the first three innings, while Kylie Swierkos came in to pitch the final four innings in relief and record the win.
• Grand Valley State struck first with a two-run home run in the opening inning.
• Purdue Northwest answered immediately with three runs in the bottom half, highlighted by DeBoer's RBI triple and Jensen's two-run home run to take a 3-2 lead.
• The Lakers responded with a four-run second inning to regain a 6-3 advantage.
• The Pride cut into the deficit with two runs in the second inning and tied the game at 6-6 in the fifth on a solo home run from Hernandez.
• Grand Valley State broke the tie in the seventh inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues to score three unearned runs and secure the 9-6 win.

Game 2
The Breakdown

• Purdue Northwest erupted for nine runs on 10 hits, securing a run-rule victory in five innings.
• Freshman Charli Westerfield (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville Community) set the tone with a leadoff home run, while senior Grace Wilson (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) added a two-run home run as part of a three-RBI performance.
• Jensen recorded two hits and an RBI, while Madura added two hits, including a double, and drove in a run.
• Freshman Jessy Del Toro (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) contributed a two-RBI single, and junior Emma Fair (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) added an RBI as part of the balanced offensive attack.
• Dugan scored twice and reached base multiple times to spark the offense.
• Sophomore Jordyn Roop (Hudson, Ill./University) earned the complete-game victory, allowing one run on three hits over five innings.
• Grand Valley State was limited to just three hits in the contest and managed only one run.
• Neveah Ingram earned in the start for Grand Valley State pitching the first 2.2 innings and taking the loss.
• Purdue Northwest jumped out to a fast start, scoring four runs in the first inning behind a home run, timely hits, and bases-loaded walks.
• The Pride added two more runs in the third inning on Wilson's home run to extend the lead to 6-1.
• Purdue Northwest continued to add on in the fourth inning with three runs, including a two-RBI hit from Del Toro, to make it 9-1.
• Roop and the Pride defense closed out the game efficiently to secure the run-rule victory.

Up Next

• Purdue Northwest will now hit the road for their final stretch of GLIAC play as they travel to take Grand Valley State once again on Saturday, May 2. The doubleheader is slated to begin at 1:30 PM CT in Allendale, Michigan.