Lady Eagles, Purvis Mow Down Windsor In Home Opener
Addison Purvis tied her career-high with 18 strikeouts Thursday, launched her third home run of the season and helped Sullivan rumble past Windsor 10-1 in their official home opener.
Purvis struck out 18 batters on two previous occasions — October 5, 2017 against Salem and September 6, 2018 against Union.
She allowed two hits and three walks on Thursday.
Purvis’ third homer came on a solo shot to lead off the fourth inning. She added two singles, a walk and was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Sullivan continued their dominance over opponents on their home turf. The Lady Eagles have lost just once at Bank of Sullivan Ballpark since moving there in 2016.
Even though Windsor struck in the first inning on an infield single, they were quickly buried after two innings.
Hanna Johanning tied the game in the first on a double after Owls starter Delana Mentel walked Madyson Stahl and Purvis.
Hannah Cox walked to load the bases and Kayla Ulrich received a free pass to bring home the go-ahead run.
A fielder’s choice groundout by Alyssa Sharp scored Johanning for a 3-1 lead.
Purvis would extend the second inning with a two-out single. Johanning and Cox were walked to load the bases and Ulrich hit a sinking liner to center that Emma Pouvaranukoah dove for and missed. The ball skipped to the fence and scored two runs.
Kloey Blanton chopped a double down the third base line to bring home two more and push Sullivan’s lead to 7-1.
Purvis launched a solo blast to begin the fourth. The Lady Eagles put runners in scoring position with two outs in the fifth after Blanton reached on an error at third. Sharp ended a nine-pitch at-bat with a loud fly ball to left that was caught.
Windsor stubbornly refused Sullivan to reach the 10-run mercy rule. The Lady Eagles loaded the bases in the fifth, but Mentel evaded trouble with another long fly ball.
In the sixth, Payton Counts had a bunt single that scored Sophie Weirich to make it 9-1. Purvis was hit by a pitch with two outs to score Tracy Cotter.