Irish post first win over Boilermakers in six tries.

March 23, 1999

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

West Lafayette, Ind. - The Notre Dame softball team, dropped the first game of a doubleheader against Purdue, 6-3, but came back in the second game to record its first win ever over the Boilermakers, 10-2, in six innings. The Irish (13-11) entered Tuesday afternoon's series with an 0-4 all-time record against Purdue (14-9).

In game one, the Irish took the early led on sophomore Melanie Alkire's (Union City, Calif.) two-run home run in the top of the first inning. The Boilermakers came back, however, with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to move the score to 3-2. Notre Dame added another run in the top of the third after Alkire scored an unearned run on an error by Purdue shortstop Jenny Barnett. The game remained tied at 3-3 until the Boilermakers scored the game's final three runs on a two-run triple by Chrissy Davie and an RBI-single from Barnett. Meagan Dooley (8-3) picked up the win for Purdue, while Irish hurler Angela Bessolo (Lakewood, Calif.), who relieved starter Jennifer Sharron (Agoura Hills, Calif.) in the second inning, dropped her fourth game of the season.

After two innings of scoreless play in the second game of the day, the Irish scored four runs in the top of the third on a pair of two-out, two-run doubles by freshmen Jarrah Myers (Carbondale, Kan.) and Jenny Kriech (Indianapolis, Ind.). Notre Dame continued is offensive success three innings later with a six run outburst, putting the game out of reach for the Boilermakers, who scored their two runs of the game in the bottom half of the inning. Overall, the Irish pounded out 13 hits off Purdue pitchers Dooley (8-4) and Nicole Crouse to tie a season high set earlier this season in a 6-4 win over Georgia Tech. Notre Dame pitcher Alkire picked up her second win of the season to more to 2-1 overall.

The Irish play host to their first home games of the season versus Toledo (1 p.m.) on Saturday, March 27, and against Bowling Green (12 p.m.) on Sunday, March 28. Both games are doubleheaders.