ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Things looked very promising for the UCA softball team early on as they erupted for five runs in the top of the first, but Purdue didn’t go away as they came from behind to defeat the Bears 8-6 Sunday afternoon at the Lobo Classic.
Kasey Britt set the tone early with her third home run of the season to lead off the game, giving the Bears a quick 1-0 edge. Nicole Beals later added an RBI on a walk and Kaytie Spencer made it 4-0 on a two-run single to right field. UCA (5-5) extended the lead to 5-0 with a Stephanie Lasley’s RBI groundout.
It didn’t take long for Purdue (3-0) to respond and get back into the game, however. The Boilermakers pounded out four hits, including two doubles in the bottom half of the second, cutting the UCA lead to 5-4.
Purdue then added two more in the fourth on a two-run single by Andie Varsho. The Bears drew even in the top of the fifth with a Lasley RBI single, but that would be the last run they would score on the afternoon.
The Boilermakers pulled ahead for good on a solo home run off the bat of Lauren Grant in the bottom of the fifth and then added some insurance, and the final run of the game, with an RBI double in the seventh by Danielle Fletcher.
Purdue starter Katie Hackney lasted just a third of an inning as the Bear offense ripped her for five runs on five hits. Lexy Moore (2-0) earned the win for Purdue, pitching 2.2 innings in the circle and allowing no runs on just one hit.
Kelsie Armstrong (1-4) was tagged with the loss for UCA as she went 4.2 innings and allowed seven runs on nine hits.
The Bears, who pounded out 10 hits on the afternoon, were led by a three hit, two RBI-effort from Spencer. Lasley added a hit and an RBI, Britt had the lone long ball for UCA on the afternoon and Lissa Avitia continued her torrid early season effort from the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored. Avitia, a freshman out of Cypress, Calif. leads UCA in hitting through the first 10 games with an average of .483.
The Bears will return to action on Tuesday when they play host to Louisiana Tech. It will be the first home game of the year for UCA and first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
