Triple play: No. 21 Northwestern’s late-game momentum leads to defeat of Purdue in extras

Purdue softball lost a close game to No. 21 Northwestern in nine innings.

After beating the Wildcats 2-1 Saturday, Northwestern brought the rubber match to extras when they tied the game at 3 in the sixth inning.

Northwestern (29-9, 15-2 Big Ten) carried its momentum into overtime and beat the Boilers (22-22, 9-8) 7-3 in the third and final game of the series on Sunday.

“We played nine against one of the best teams in the country. So I think that that sends a message that we can really hang with anybody,” head coach Magali Frezzotti said.

Here are three major moments from the game:

2 pitches, 2 doubles, 1 run

At the start of the first inning, Northwestern’s Kansas Robinson walked up to bat. Junior lefty Kendall Klochack made the first pitch, and the game swung into motion.

On the first pitch, Robinson hit the ball right down the middle, all the way back to the warning track. This hit got Robinson all the way out to second base.

For the second pitch, Northwestern’s Kelsey Nader went to bat. She hit this one far out to the right, which earned her a double, and Robinson scored the first run of the game.

After these two pitches, however, Klochack refocused her game.

“The Northwesterners, all the hitters, they just want to hit, so I kind of use that to my advantage,” Klochack said.

Having centered herself, Klochack then struck out the next batter, Northwestern’s Angela Zedak.

“I was able to understand when I can push for a strike,” Klochack said.

Taking the lead

After Klochack struck out another one of Northwestern’s batters to end the top of the second, Purdue had another chance to get runs on the board.

Junior outfielder Kyndall Bailey made a single after getting a hit to the left side. Sophomore third baseman Sage Scarmardo, the next in the lineup, quickly hit a bunt that got them further into the bases.

Next, junior shortstop Tyrina Jones stepped up to the plate and hit another single, this time with a ground ball. Scarmardo got out during the play, but Bailey was able to get to third, setting the stage for what was to come.

After junior first baseman Olivia McFadden struck out, Jordyn Ramos was next up to bat. The sophomore utility player then hit a double that soared far down the middle, allowing Bailey and Jones to score. Ramos went for third base during the play, but didn’t have quite enough time and got out.

“We always work on pushing for more, and pushing for more bases, so I was just pushing to go for it,” Ramos said.

A difficult end

In the following innings, it was a very close game. Purdue’s defense performed especially well in the third inning, leaving the top of the inning having not allowed any runs, hits or base appearances.

On the first pitch of the bottom of the third, Purdue kept making moves. Sophomore outfielder Khloe Banks sent a double deep to right, and when freshman utility player Ashlynn Campbell grounded out after her, she was able to make it to third base.

Freshman outfielder Moriah Polar then grounded out as well, but it didn’t matter; Banks took the opportunity to make it home, bringing the score up to 3-1.

In the fourth and fifth innings, the game slowed down a little, with neither team scoring any runs. In the sixth, however, the dynamic changed.

Nader got onto the bases with an infield single, and soon after, she stole second.

Following that up, Zedak was back on the plate. Continuing her strong hits of the day, Zedak hit a homerun, allowing Nader to score as well as herself, and bringing the score up to a tied 3-3.

In the bottom of the inning, Purdue was unable to make much ground, with Polar making the only plate appearance after getting walked.

In the seventh, the game was tense. Purdue’s defense once again ended the top with no runs, no hits, and no one on bases, and although Jones was able to get out to first, the Boilermakers were not able to score either.

The eighth was much of the same. Zedak was able to hit a single into left field, but that was Northwestern’s only hit of the inning. At the bottom, Campbell and Polar were able to get a single each, but it wasn’t enough to score.

Moving to the ninth and final inning, things heated up. Northwestern’s Bridget Donahey walked to first after being struck by a pitch from Purdue’s Julia Gossett. Soon after, Ainsley Muno landed a single with a bunt.

Ayana Lindsey was up next, and she made a game changing play. She hit a triple, allowing Donahey and Muno to score, making the score 5-3.

While on third, Lindsey was subbed out with Grace Minarovic, and after Robinson hit a ground ball single, Minarovic was able to score.

After that, Nader was back on the plate, where she hit another single that allowed Robinson to score, bringing the score up to 7-3.

In the bottom of the ninth, Purdue couldn’t quite make something happen. After Bailey was able to walk out to first, Sage Scarmardo struck out. Jones was then walked out as well, and was followed up by McFadden, who struck out as well. After her, it was down to Ramos, who ended the game when she struck out.

The Boilers will return to Bittinger Stadium Wednesday to take on Ball State (22-24) at 5:30 p.m. General admission is free.