May 12, 2009

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team embarks on its second-consecutive NCAA Regionals appearance on Friday in Louisville, Ky. Purdue will face off with No. 19 Louisville at 6 p.m. and will take on either UT Martin or No. 6 Arizona on Saturday depending on results.

Get Your Tickets
Tickets for Purdue softball's NCAA Regional games are on sale now. To purchase tickets, please contact the Louisville ticket office at 502-852-5151. The three day tournament will be broken up into three sessions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Individual tickets are available for each session or all-tournament passes can be purchased at a discounted rate.

Notes About The NCAA Tournament
Sixty-four teams will vie for the title of NCAA Softball Champions. Twenty-nine teams receive automatic berths for winning their conference title or conference tournament title, while 35 more earn at-large berths. The Championships will culminate with the Women's College World Series beginning May 28 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The Book on the Boilermakers
At First Glance: Purdue (29-18, 12-8 Big Ten) is making its second straight NCAA Regional appearance after posting its best conference mark since 1997 and finishing sixth in Big Ten play. The Boilermaker squad, which returns 14 letterwinners from the 2008 team that earned the first NCAA Tournament berth and victory in program history, posted four wins over Top 25 foes in 2009 and faced off against 12 members of the NCAA field. Purdue is coached by Kim Maher, who is her fourth year with the team.

Last Time Out: The Boilermakers swept instate foe Indiana 2-1 and 8-7 both in eight innings on Saturday to wrap up the regular season. Purdue won nine of its last 13 games, including victories over then-No. 10 Northwestern and then-No. 14 Ohio State.

Statistically Speaking: Third baseman Liane Horiuchi paces the Boilermaker offense with a .348 average, while also racking up a team-best 39 runs, 21 extra base hits and 24 RBI. The junior also has posted a 38-for-38 effort on the basepaths. Shortstop Candace Curtis (.305), outfielder Molly Garst (.300), catcher Jenna Alexander (.266), and catcher/designated player Shelby Krammer (.262) also are batting above .250. Curtis has tallied a team-leading 27 RBI, while also accounting for 16 extra-base hits, including two home runs, and scoring 21 runs. First baseman Katie Mitchell (.237) has registered a team-leading 10 home runs, 25 RBI and 27 runs. Garst has swiped 23 bases, while outfielder Beth Cinadr (.234) has added three home runs and six stolen bases to the team's tally. As a team, the Boilermakers are batting .255 with 26 home runs and 94 stolen bases.

In the circle, Suzie Rzegocki (23-11) boasts a 1.40 ERA and has recorded 184 strikeouts in 224 innings, including 23 complete games and six shutouts. Dana Alcocer (4-7) has struck out 48 in 73 innings, including five complete game efforts. Ashley DiDomenico (2-0) has seen action in 11 games, striking out eight in 24 innings, while rookie Katie Hackney has seen action in one contest.

Chatting About The Cardinals
At First Glance: The No. 19 Louisville Cardinals (47-8, 19-5 Big East) are making their sixth consecutive NCAA Regional appearance and hosting for the first time. The Cardinals are in the midst of a record-setting season, including a school record 47 wins and the program's highest national ranking at 14th. The team earned an at-large berth after finishing third in the Big East regular season race and as the conference's runner up at the Big East Championships. UofL has posted a 26-2 record at home at Ulmer Stadium.. Louisville is coached by Sandy Pearsall, who is in her 10th year with the team.

Last Time Out: Last week, Louisville posted a 1-1 mark, topping UConn 4-0 in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament, before falling to Notre Dame 3-0 in the championship game.

Statistically Speaking: Eight Cardinal players boast average of .300 or better, paced by catcher Melissa Roth's .437 mark. Roth has racked up a team-best 51 RBI, 62 runs, 15 doubles and 16 home runs, while also swiping eight bases. Third baseman Chelsea Bemis (.389), shortstop Colby Wherry (.366), outfielder Kristin Austin (.352), outfielder Vanessa James (.311), outfielder Kristi Cunningham (.307), first baseman Kassie Stanfill (.303) and outfielder Brittany York (.300) round out the group. Bemis has posted 16 doubles and eight home runs, while driving in 43 RBI. Wherry has added 12 doubles and two home runs, while scoring 27 runs ... Austin has tallied a team-best 16 stolen bases, while James and Cunningham follow with 10 and nine. James also has registered five doubles and 41 runs, while Cunningham has launched 12 home runs. As a team, Louisville is batting .322 with 46 home runs, 17 triples and 55 stolen bases.

Junior Kristen Wadwell (40-7) has issued 237 strikeouts in 292 innings, while posting a 1.39 ERA. Wadwell leads the nation with 40 wins, including 32 complete games, 11 shutouts and two saves. Freshman lefty Tori Collins (7-1) has struck out 53 batters in 77 innings, while tossing three complete games, including two shutouts.

All About Arizona
At First Glance: The No. 6 Arizona Wildcats (41-14), eight time NCAA Champions, are making their 23rd straight NCAA Regional appearance. The Wildcats earned the No. 9 overall seed and an at-large berth after finishing 13-7 in Pac-10 play. The program's 41-14 record marks the 23rd consecutive 40-victory season, dating to its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Arizona is coached by Mike Candrea, who is in his 24th year with the team.

Last Time Out: Last week, the Wildcats lost a 2-1 10-inning road battle with Oregon, but rebounded with a two-game sweep of Oregon State (10-0 and 12-2).

Statistically Speaking: Brittany Lastrapes paces the Arizona offense with a .458 average and leads a group of seven Wildcat players with average of .300 or better. Lastrapes has scored a team-best 71 runs, driven in 56 RBI and tallied 37 extra base hits, including 18 doubles and 17 home runs. Outfielder Lauren Schutzler (.420), catcher Stacie Chambers (.377), shortstop K'Lee Arredondo (.356), third baseman Jenae Leles (.345), catcher Lini Koria (.329) and first baseman Sam Banister (.321) round out the group. Chambers has launched a team-best 28 home runs and accounted for 86 RBI, while Leles has added 22 long balls. Banister has added 14 round trippers, while Koria and Arredondo each have tallied 12. As a team, Arizona is batting .339 with 126 home runs.

Junior Sarah Akamine (19-6), senior Jennifer Martinez (10-4) and sophomore Lindsey Sisk (12-4) have split the pitching duties for the Wildcats. Akamine boasts a staff-best 2.37 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 153 innings, including seven complete games, a shutout and a save. Martinez has added 96 strikeouts in 96 innings of work, including five complete games, a shutout and two saves. Sisk has issued 70 Ks in 96 innings, including nine complete games.

Scouting The Skyhawks
At First Glance: The UT Martin Skyhawks (38-22) are making their first NCAA Regional appearance after earning the Ohio Valley Conference's automatic bid with the OVC Tournament title. The Skyhawks posted a 13-10 in the Ohio Valley Conference, good for fourth place. UT Martin is coached by Donley Canary, who is in his eighth season with the team.

Last Time Out: Last week, the Skyhawks posted a 5-1 record at the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. After losing 1-0 its opening game against Tennessee Tech, UT Martin downed Morehead State (5-0 (8)), Jacksonville State (2-0), Tennessee Tech (4-2) and Southeast Missouri State twice (3-2 (8) and 4-1) en route to the program's first-ever Ohio Valley Conference championship.

Statistically Speaking: Outfielder Megan Williams (.340) and utility player Jenny Bain (.325) lead the Skyhawk offense, while five other UT Martin players boast averages of .250 or better. Williams has tallied 37 runs and 34 RBI, while posting 22 extra base hits, including four triples and five home runs, and swiping 14 bases. Bain has scored a team-leading 42 runs, registered 27 extra-base hits, including 14 home runs, and driven in 34 RBI. Catcher Savannah Roberts (.298), third baseman Megan Van Arsdale (.291), first baseman Chelsea Cary (.291), outfielder Laura Roberts (.287) and catcher Laurie Lindow (.273) also are batting .250 or better. Van Arsdale has added 10 home runs, while Roberts has driven in a team-best 42 RBI with 11 doubles and nine home runs. Cary has added nine stolen bases. A s a team, UT Martin is batting .277 with 55 home runs and 60 stolen bases.

Senior Kara Harper (20-8), junior Paij Lintz (11-7) and freshman Chelsea Jones (7-7) have split time in the circle. Harper has posted a 1.70 ERA with 98 strikeouts in 193 innings, including 23 complete games and two shutouts. Lintz has issued 100 Ks in 128 innings, while tossing 13 complete games and two shutouts. Jones had added 54 strikeouts in 86 innings.

Common Foes
The four teams in the Louisville Regional have faced off with several common opponents with varying results.

Louisville is 3-2 against Big Ten foes in 2009, having lost to Ohio State (3-2), split with Michigan (L 2-3, W 3-2 (8)) and beaten Minnesota (3-2 (8)) and Indiana (6-1). The Cardinals also faced off with Jacksonville State, posting a 6-0 win.

Arizona went 4-2 against the Big Ten this season, falling to Northwestern (1-3) and Michigan (0-4), and posting a pair of wins over Minnesota (10-4, 20-3) Illinois (7-4) and Penn State (9-6). The Wildcats also faced Purdue foes Texas A&M and UCLA, posting 1-2 marks against both the Aggies and the Bruins.

UT Martin took on three Boilermaker opponents in 2009. The Skyhawks lost to Jacksonville State (3-6, 1-7) and Georgia Tech (1-2, 5-7) twice and also lost to Winthrop (1-3).

School Ties
The most notable tie between the schools in the Louisville Regional is between Purdue and the host Cardinals. Louisville associate head coach Carol Bruggeman was the head coach of the Boilermakers for 12 years after helping found the program in 1994. This year's Purdue senior class was recruited by Bruggeman before her departure for Louisville in the summer of 2005. Bruggeman also has Big Ten ties after earning her bachelor's degree from Iowa in 1987.

Purdue senior pitcher Dana Alcocer hails from Tucson, Ariz., home of the ninth-seeded Arizona Wildcats. Alcocer attended Pima Community College before joining the Boilermakers. Junior pitcher Ashley Ralston-Alvarez joined the Arizona squad after a stint at Pima.

Louisville freshman pitcher Toni Collins hails from Lafayette, Ind., and attended McCutcheon High School.

Series Information
Louisville (Louisville leads the series 2-1): The Cardinals have taken two of the three meetings with the Boilermakers in the series which began on March 15, 2003. The teams split the series opening doubleheader with UofL taking Game 1 2-0 and Purdue winning the night cap 9-3. Louisville won the most recent meeting, taking a 5-0 win on Feb. 14, 2004 at the Triangle Classic in Raleigh, N.C.

Arizona: This would be the first meeting between the Boilermakers and the Wildcats.

UT-Martin: This would be the first meeting between the Boilermakers and the Skyhawks.

What a Difference a Win Makes ...

If the Boilermakers top Louisville on Friday ...

• They will move to 30-18 on the year, marking the program's 11th straight 30-win season.

• They will garner the second NCAA Regional win in program history, following up last year's 4-3 win over Cal State Fullerton in an elimination game.

• They will have beaten their fifth ranked foe of the season, a feat last accomplished by the 1997 team, which downed six ranked opponents. Thus far in 2009, Purdue has topped No. 4 UCLA, No. 10 Northwestern, No. 14 Ohio State and No. 18 Texas A&M.

• They will even the all-time series with the Cardinals at 2-2.

• They will move to 29-31 all-time when playing in the month of May.

Among The Nation's Best
Two Boilermakers players have earned spots among the nation's top 50 in several statistical categories. Third baseman Liane Horiuchi ranks fourth nationally in hit by pitch per game (0.40) and fifth in stolen bases per game (0.81). Pitcher Suzie Rzegocki ranks 27th in ERA (1.40).

As a team, the Boilermakers rank 12th in stolen bases per game (2.99). Purdue also ranks among the national Top 50 in double plays per game (32nd with 0.40) and sits 51st in earned run average (2.32).

A Strong Resume
After earning its first NCAA Regional berth in 2008, the Boilermaker softball team set its sights set on a return trip to the postseason. Purdue finished sixth in the Big Ten standings after posting a double-digit conference win tally for the fifth time in program history. Purdue was listed No. 52 in the latest RPI rankings released May 5.

The Boilermakers put together a nice resume in 2009, knocking off four Top 25 ranked teams and posting eight wins over the RPI Top 50. Purdue, which faced 11 NCAA Regional competitors, knocked off No. 4 UCLA to start the 2009 season, then added wins over No. 18 Texas A&M, No 10 Northwestern and No. 14 Ohio State. The Boilermakers won seven of their last 11 games, including victories over the Wildcats and Buckeyes.

Purdue took on 12 teams which advanced to the NCAA Regionals, all of which were listed in the RPI top 50: UCLA (4), Michigan (8), Northwestern (11), Ohio State (12), Florida State (14), Georgia Tech (19), Iowa (24), Illinois (29), Auburn (30), Texas A&M (32), Jacksonville State (34) and Mississippi State (39). The Boilermakers faced off with six teams currently ranked in the NFCA Top 25: No. 3 UCLA, No. 8 Michigan, No. 11 Ohio State, No. 13 Northwestern, No. 16 Florida State and No. 21 Georgia Tech.

Clutch Candace
Senior infielder Candace Curtis was rewarded with Big Ten Player of the Week honors on May 11 for her big senior day performance against Indiana on May 9.

Curtis posted a .556 average with five hits, including three doubles, and had a hand in eight of Purdue's 10 runs in its sweep of the Hoosiers. She posted six RBI and two runs, while boasting a .889 slugging percentage and a .556 on-base percentage. In Game 1 vs. the Hoosiers, Curtis went 2-for-4 and drove in both of Purdue's runs. A sixth-inning double put Purdue on the board, then an eighth-inning single plated the game winner. In the 8-7 Game 2 victory, the Danville, Calif., native went 3-for-5 with four RBI and the game-winning run. Curtis put two on the board with a first-inning double, then tacked on two more RBI with a second-inning single. With the game on the line in the eighth, Curtis capped her final regular season game with a leadoff double before coming home on a sacrifice fly to seal the victory.

Grade A Academics
Junior infielder Liane Horiuchi and senior infielder Candace Curtis were honored for their work in the classroom with Academic All-District V honors. Horiuchi, a movement and sport sciences major, earned first team honors making her eligible for Academic All-America honors, while Curtis, a management major garnered second team accolades.

Five former Purdue softball players have garnered Academic All-America accolades, most recently Tricia Lilley, who garnered third team honors in 2006.

A Smooth Criminal
With two steals against Penn State on April 25, junior Liane Horiuchi snapped the single-season stolen base record of 36 set by third baseman Ashley Hall in 2007. Horiuchi is a perfect 38-for-38 on the basepaths, a mark which leads Purdue and the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally.

Home Run Happy
Senior first baseman Katie Mitchell became Purdue's career home run leader with a first-inning long ball in Game 1 against Michigan State on April 9. The round tripper, Mitchell's 33rd, gave her sole possession of the home run mark, putting her one ahead of the mark of 32 owned by Katie Crabtree (1999-2002) and Heidi Foster (2000-2003). She added No. 34 on April 16 against Valparaiso and No. 35 against Illinois on April 29.

Mitchell tied Foster and Crabtree with a fifth-inning solo shot on March 21 vs. Wisconsin. That long ball 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 26 home runs thus far in 2009, including Mitchell's 10. Seven different Boilermaker players have contributed a long ball.

Upcoming Milestones
Sophomore pitcher Suzie Rzegocki is just one strikeout away from entering the Purdue career top five in the category. In just two seasons, the Lemont, Ill., native has issued 309 Ks, just one shy of the fifth-place slot held by Nicole Crouse (1999-2002).

Senior infielder/designated player Katie Mitchell looks to build on her career record tally of 35 home runs. The Crown Point, Ind., native also ranks among the career top five for slugging percentage (2nd with .550), RBI (3rd with 129), walks (3rd with 81), runs (4th with 125), on-base percentage (5th with .379) and doubles (5th with 40). 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 broke into the career assists top five. bumping her tally to 385 on April 29. She currently sits in fourth with 389 assists.

Senior second baseman Kelly Miller entered the career top five for sacrifice bunts with two on April 9 vs. Michigan State. The two bunts pushed Miller's career tally to 41, surpassing the fifth-place mark of 40 posted by Mandy Smart from 1996-99. She tallied her 42nd on April 22.

Two other Boilermakers are within striking distance of the career listings for sacrifice bunts. Junior outfielder Ashley Barr and Curtis are just behind Miller. Barr has recorded 35 and Curtis has added 33. Miller set the single-season record for sacrifices in 2008 with a team and Big Ten leading tally of 25, which ranked third nationally.

Taking One For The Team
The 2009 Boilermakers have been plunked a school record 43 times, surpassing the previous hit by pitch record of 37 posted by the 2005 team. Junior Liane Horiuchi has been hit 19 times, just two shy of the single-season record mark of 21 set by Tricia Lilley in 2006.

In the Record Books
In addition to setting the school record for team hit by pitch, the 2009 Boilermakers have earned spots on the single-season top five lists for stolen bases (3rd with 94) and sacrifice flies (3rd with 13). The team is two home runs, eight sacrifice bunts and 14 walks away from the top five in those categories.

Individually, sophomore pitcher Suzie Rzegocki has made the greatest impact on the single-season lists, ranking among the top five in six categories and sitting just outside the listing for another. Rzegocki ranks third in wins (23), fourth in complete games (23) and fifth in starts (34), shutouts (6), innings pitched (224.2) and strikeouts (184). Junior infielder Liane Horiuchi set the stolen base record and also ranks fifth in triples (4). Senior first baseman Katie Mitchell has launched 10 home runs, good for fifth on the single-season list. Freshman outfielder Molly Garst has swiped 23 bases, one away from the top five in that category.

Purdue 500
The Boilermaker softball team recorded the 500th win in program history with a 7-1 victory over Valparaiso in Game 1 of the April 16 doubleheader. Purdue is now 506-406-4 all-time, including a 124-102-1 mark under head coach Kim Maher.

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 127-103-1 in her three-plus year tenure at the helm. In her time at Purdue, the Boilermakers have defeated five Top 25 foes and have beaten all 10 Big Ten opponents.

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.

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.

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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