Owls Let One Slip Away

Sunday, February 12

Boca Raton, Fla.

11:00 AM

Florida Atlantic

Purdue

2/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Feb. 12, 2006

Final Stats

Boca Raton, FL - Florida Atlantic University's softball team held a 3-0 lead through five innings but saw Purdue University score two in the top half of both the sixth and seventh innings to take the 4-3 victory on Worth Invitational Championship Sunday, played at FAU.

The Owls (1-4) struck first in the second inning. Shauna Corso led off the inning with a single up the middle and was then sacrificed to second. Senior shortstop Danielle Arriaga hit a one-out single to drive in Corso and put the first run of the game on the board. Arriaga was then driven in by Christi Houghtaling's double to left and moved to third on a single. Houghtaling would score FAU's final run of the game by walking home on an illegal pitch.

With three runs in the book starter Jen Musillo returned to the mound to hold the Boilermakers to just two hits through five innings of work. The momentum of the game shifted with two outs in the sixth. A single, an error and a wild pitch put runners on second and third. What appeared to be the final out of the inning, a foul pop-up, was dropped extending the plate appearance for Purdue's Staci Falzon who hit a RBI single to right pulling Purdue within two. Christina Trauger scored on the following single before the Musillo was able to get a ground out to close out the inning.

The Owls threatened in the bottom have of the inning with a one out single by Kala Guy but were unable to capitalize sending Musillo back to the mound for the top of the seventh with a one run lead.

Purdue's Erika Peterson led off the seventh with a home run down the left field line to even the contest at three. One out later the Boilermakers lead-off hitter hit a triple to right and scored on a ground out to take their first lead of the game.

Diana LaRiva, who picked up her third victory of the season, faced four FAU hitters in the seventh retiring the first two she faced, then walked Jessica Sachs and closed out the game with a strikeout.

East Carolina captured the tournament with a two-out walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh. ECU's Keli Harrell was named the tournament's MVP.

FAU will next host a six team tournament beginning 9 a.m., Friday, Feb. 17.

Complete Tournament Results

Friday, February 10th
South Carolina 2, Purdue 0
South Carolina 1, Pittsburgh 0
Purdue 5, Pittsburgh 0
East Carolina 7, Bethune-Cookman 0
Florida Atlantic 8, Bethune-Cookman 0 (5 innings)
East Carolina 1, Florida Atlantic 0
Saturday, February 11th
Purdue 2, Bethune-Cookman 1
East Carolina 3, Purdue 1
East Carolina 8, Pittsburgh 2
Bethune-Cookman 3, South Carolina 2
Pittsburgh 2, Florida Atlantic 1
South Carolina 2, Florida Atlantic 1
Sunday, February 12th
Bethune-Cookman 4, Pittsburgh 3
Purdue 4, Florida Atlantic 3
East Carolina 2, South Carolina 1