April 8, 2009

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team hits the road for a Thursday doubleheader with Michigan State, before returning home to share Easter weekend festivities with Iowa. Purdue (18-12, 3-3 Big Ten) will offer $1 tickets to Sunday's 2 p.m. contest with the Hawkeyes and an Easter Egg Hunt immediately following the game.

Multimedia Live statistics will be available on purduesports.com via the GameTracker feature. Live audio broadcasts of Thursday's games will be available on WSHY 1410 AM in Lafayette and on yahoosports.com. The Boilermakers' weekend contests will air live on yahoosports.com.

The Book on the Boilermakers
At First Glance: Purdue (18-12) looks to get back on the winning track against Michigan State on Thursday. The Boilermaker squad returns 14 letterwinners from the 2008 team that earned the first NCAA Tournament berth and victory in program history and adds three newcomers to the mix. Purdue is coached by Kim Maher, who is her fourth year with the team.

Last Time Out: The Boilermakers fell to No. 10 Michigan in a pair of close games on Saturday. The Wolverines won Game 1 3-1 before squeaking out a 4-3 win in nine innings in Game 2 of the doubleheader.

Statistically Speaking: Third baseman Liane Horiuchi paces the Boilermaker offense with a .400 average, while also racking up a team-best 26 runs, 14 extra base hits and 17 RBI. The junior also has posted a 30-for-30 effort on the basepaths. Shortstop Candace Curtis (.333), first baseman Katie Mitchell (.286), catcher Shelby Krammer (.282), outfielder Molly Garst (.274) and catcher Jenna Alexander (.264) also are batting above .250. Curtis has tallied nine extra-base hits, including a home run, 15 runs and 18 RBI. Garst has swiped 10 bases, while Mitchell has registered a team-leading seven home runs, 16 RBI and 20 runs. Outfielder Beth Cinadr has added three home runs and five stolen bases to the team's tally. As a team, the Boilermakers are batting .261 with 19 home runs and 60 stolen bases.

In the circle, Suzie Rzegocki (15-7) boasts a 1.37 ERA and has recorded 123 strikeouts in 148 innings, including 16 complete games and four shutouts. Dana Alcocer (2-5) has struck out 30 in 43 innings, including four complete game efforts. Ashley DiDomenico (1-0) has seen action in seven games, striking out six batters in 13 innings, while rookie Katie Hackney has seen action in one contest.

What a Difference a Win Makes ...

If the Boilermakers top No. 10 Michigan on Saturday...

• They will move to 19-12 on the year and 4-3 in Big Ten play.

• They will take a 19-16 lead in the all-time series with the Spartans, including an 8-8 mark in East Lansing.

• They will move to 167-164-2 all-time when playing in the month of April, including an 6-4 mark in contests on April 8.

Scouting The Spartans
At First Glance: The Michigan State Spartans (13-18, 0-5 Big Ten) look to snap a three-game losing streak when they host Purdue on Thursday. The Spartans went 27-29 including an 8-12 mark in Big Ten play a year ago. Michigan State is coached by Jacquie Joseph, who is in her 16th year with the team.

Last Time Out: Michigan State dropped a Wednesday doubleheader to No. 8 Northwestern last week. The Wildcats topped the Spartans, 9-1 and 11-2.

Statistically Speaking: Pitcher Lauren Kramer leads a group of four Spartans batting .300 or better. Kramer boasts a .398 average, followed by second baseman Gina Mondo (.396), catcher Kara Weigle (.374) and shortstop Lindsey Hansen (.313). Mondo paces the team with 23 runs and nine stolen bases, while also adding 20 RBI and five home runs. Hansen also has scored 23 runs, while also tallying a team-best 10 home runs, three triples and 22 RBI. Outfielder Jessica Bracamonte (.283), first baseman Heidi Purtzer (.267) and outfielder Lori Padilla (.250) also are batting .250 or better. As a team, the Spartans are batting .290 with 32 home runs and 36 stolen bases.

Five pitchers have seen action for Michigan State this season. Senior Megan Hair (4-7) has struck out 39 batters in 80 innings and earned three saves, while Kramer (4-6) has added 35 strikeouts in 64 innings. Junior Kelly Confer (3-4) has issued 15 Ks in 40 innings, while sophomore Shae Bass (1-1) and freshman Rebecca Rogers (1-0) have combined for eight strikeouts in 15 innings. The staff owns a combined 5.05 ERA and is allowing opponents to hit at a .315 clip.

An Inkling About Iowa
At First Glance: The Iowa Hawkeyes (29-9, 3-3 Big Ten) are slated to face Iowa State on Tuesday and Western Illinois on Wednesday before returning to conference play against Purdue this weekend. The Hawkeyes went 42-20 including an 14-6 mark in Big Ten play a year ago. Iowa is coached by Gayle Blevins, who is in her 22nd year with the team.

Last Time Out: Iowa posted a 2-2 mark last week, sweeping Illinois in a midweek doubleheader (1-0 and 9-1) before falling to Penn State in a Saturday twin bill (1-0 and 2-1).

Statistically Speaking: Outfielder Lindsey Digmann paces the Hawkeyes with a .481 average in just 27 at-bats. Eight other Iowa players are batting .250 or better, including six with marks of .300 or better. Outfielder Rachel West (.353), infielder Chelsey Carmody (.342), infielder/outfielder Colleen McGlaughlin (.342), catcher Liz Watkins (.341), infielder Katie Brown (.330) and outfielder Taylor Leichsenring (.303) make up the group. West has stolen 15 bases in limited action, while Carmody has scored a team-best 23 runs and swiped nine bases. McLaughlin has driven in 34 RBI and launched four home runs, while Watkins has tallied 28 RBI and a team-best six long balls. The Hawkeyes are batting .292 as a team with 22 home runs and 54 stolen bases.

Senior Brittany Weil and junior Amanda Zust split time in the circle for the Hawkeyes. Weil has posted a 14-7 record with a 1.10 ERA and 211 strikeouts in 147 innings. Zust boasts a 15-2 mark, a 1.33 ERA and 96 strikeouts after 110 innings of work. The pair own a combined 1.20 ERA and have held opponents to a .158 average.

Among The Nation's Best
Three Boilermakers players have earned spots among the nation's top 30 in several statistical categories. Third baseman Liane Horiuchi ranks second nationally in stolen bases per game (1.00), third in hit by pitch per game (0.40), 15th in triples per game (0.13), 17th in triples (4) and 18th in on-base percentage (.536). Shortstop Candace Curtis ranks 13th in sacrifice flies (3.0). Pitcher Suzie Rzegocki ranks 27th in wins (15) and 38th in ERA (1.37).

As a team, the Boilermakers rank 13th in stolen bases per game (2.00). Purdue also ranks among the national Top 50 in double plays per game (37th with 0.40) and ERA (48th with 2.21).

Upcoming Milestones
Senior infielder/designated player Katie Mitchell is just one home run away from owning sole possession of the career record, as she tied the mark of 32 owned by Katie Crabtree (1999-2002) and Heidi Foster (2000-2003) on March 21 vs. Wisconsin. The Crown Point, Ind., native also ranks among the career top five for slugging percentage (1st with .564), RBI (3rd with 120), on-base percentage (5th with .385) and walks (5th with 72). Mitchell also is set to earn a spot in the career rankings for doubles and runs, needing just two doubles and two runs to enter the top five listings. In 2007, the infielder set the Purdue single-season records for runs (54), RBI (54), home runs (14) and slugging percentage (.697).

Senior shortstop Candace Curtis has tallied 19 home runs in her career, ranking her fifth on the career top five list. The Danville, Calif., native also is approaching the career walks top five, having posted 57 thus far, just 15 behind Mitchell's fifth-place tally. By season's end, Curtis also is on pace to break into the career assists top five.

A trio of Boilermakers are within striking distance of the career listings for sacrifice bunts. Senior second baseman Kelly Miller, junior outfielder Ashley Barr and Curtis are nearing closer to the fifth-place mark of 40 sacrifices posted by Mandy Smart from 1996-99. Miller currently has 38, while Barr has recorded 35 and Curtis has added 32. Miller set the single-season record for sacrifices in 2008 with a team and Big Ten leading tally of 25, which ranked third nationally.

Home Run Happy
Senior first baseman Katie Mitchell tied the career home run record of 32 on March 21 vs. Wisconsin. The fifth-inning solo shot tied the mark of 32 owned by Katie Crabtree (1999-2002) and Heidi Foster (2000-2003). The long ball also was Mitchell's fourth of the week. She launched a school game-record tying two home runs in Game 2 of the Boilermakers' March 16 doubleheader with Florida Atlantic, after registering a two-run shot in Game 1.

Purdue has racked up 19 home runs thus far in 2009, including Mitchell's seven. Seven different Boilermaker players have contributed a long ball.

Making History
The Boilermakers kicked off the 2009 campaign by doing something no other Purdue softball team had before, topping No. 4 UCLA 2-1 on Feb. 7. Prior to the contest, Purdue was 0-18 against Top 5 teams in program history. The victory surpasses wins over No. 7 Baylor in 2008 and No. 7 Texas in 1999 for the mark of highest ranked foe ever defeated by a Boilermaker side.

Isn't 100 Grand?
Fourth-year head coach Kim Maher reached the 100-win milestone for her career as the Boilermakers topped Pacific 8-1 on Feb. 8. Purdue is now 116-95-1 in her three-plus year tenure at the helm.

Super Suzie
Sophomore pitcher Suzie Rzegocki was named Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week March 9 after posting a 4-0 record with a 0.64 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 22 innings of work and garnering all-tournament team honors at the Buzz Classic. The Lemont, Ill., native held opponents to a .156 average and just two earned runs, while pitching two shutouts. She struck out eight in a complete-game effort against Georgia Tech, then followed that with a five strikeout performance in a complete-game shutout of Indiana State. Rzegocki pitched two innings of relief against Jacksonville State, striking out one and holding the Gamecocks without a hit to garner her third win of the weekend. The sophomore fanned four batters in six innings against Boston College, while allowing four hits in the six-inning shutout.

Dominant Dana
After helping the Boilermakers chalk up the biggest win in Purdue softball history, a 2-1 victory over No. 4 UCLA on Feb. 7, senior pitcher Dana Alcocer was rewarded for her performance with Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week honors.

Alcocer earned the complete game victory as the Boilermakers topped the No. 4 Bruins 2-1, the team's first Top 5 win in program history. The senior allowed just two hits in the game, while striking out four. After working out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning, the Tucson, Ariz., native settled in, taking down 18 of the next 23 batters. Alcocer had a one-hitter going with two outs in the seventh, before allowing the Bruins a second hit.

The Player of the Week accolade is the first for Alcocer, who posted a 19-14 record for the Boilermakers in 2008, while tossing 138 strikeouts and 17 complete games in 198.2 innings.

And The Honor Goes To...
Outfielders Christina Trauger and Ashley Barr received all-tournament team honors at the Auburn War Eagle Classic, Feb. 21-22. Each batted .333 to lead the Boilermaker offense as it posted a 3-1 record. Trauger added a double, three RBI, two runs and a stolen base to the team's tally, while Barr managed three hits, a run and a stolen base.

Pitcher Suzie Rzegocki earned all-tournament team honors at the Buzz Classic, March 13-15. The sophomore posted a 4-0 record at the tournament with a 0.64 ERA, 18 strikeouts and three complete games in 22 innings of work.

A Tough Slate
In 2009, the Boilermakers are slated to face 12 NCAA Tournament teams, including UCLA, which advanced to the 2008 Women's College World Series. Based on the preseason NFCA rankings, Purdue will take on No. 4 UCLA in non-conference play, and No. 8 Michigan and No. 9 Northwestern during Big Ten play. Four other Purdue opponents received votes in the preseason poll.

Fresh Faces
Pitcher Katie Hackney and infielders Molly Garst and Liane Horiuchi join the Boilermaker ranks in 2009. Horiuchi sat out the 2008 season after transferring from Tennessee, where she played on the Lady Vols' Women's College World Series team in 2007. Hackney, a freshman from Huntington, Ind., was Indiana's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2008. Garst, a rookie from Webb City, Mo., was a four-time all-state selection as a prepster.

Changing Places
Senior Alicia Spack has filled a variety of roles since transferring to Purdue following the 2006 season. The West Lafayette, Ind., native, has seen time at designated player, first base, second base, left field and right field during the last two years. Spack, however, is returning to her natural position and will battle for the catcher's position in 2009. The senior played catcher in high school and was recruited to Florida as such before returning home to West Lafayette following her freshman season.

Junior Kaity Stratten is making the transition to full-time pitcher following a 2008 campaign which saw her in mostly an offensive role. Stratten acted as a pinch hitter or designated player on occasion in 2007 and 2008, tallying two hits, a solo home run and a grand slam, in 17 at-bats. Stratten joined the team's pitching corps midway through 2008 in a limited role, tossing a scoreless inning against No. 10 Stanford.

High Praise
The Boilermaker coaching staff of head coach Kim Maher, assistant coach Linda Garza and assistant coach Boo Gillette was honored by its peers with NFCA Mideast Region Coaching Staff of the Year accolades. The honor was announced by the NFCA following the 2008 season, which was an historical one for the Purdue side.

A Look Back at 2008
The 2008 Boilermakers earned the first NCAA Tournament berth in program history, making an appearance in the Los Angeles Regional in May. Purdue not only played in the Regional, but garnered the program's first NCAA Tournament win with a 4-3 victory over Cal State Fullerton in an elimination game. The win was yet another highlight of a season which included a victory over No. 7 Baylor, marking the highest ranked opponent a Purdue team had beaten in program lore. The Boilermakers also posted their ninth straight 30-win season, reaching the milestone victory in record time, in just 44 games. The team's final tally of 35 wins was the most for a Purdue team since 1997 (41-25).

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