GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 20 • 26
Texas A&M only got one hit (Sunday). It was
really fun to play defense for Lilly."
Schuette made stout defense the No.
1 priority for this season's team along with
solid pitching and was pleased with the early
results, especially since Burkhardt is the only
player who started more than 20 games last
year in the spot she is in this season.
"The offense will come and go," Schuette
said. "I'm really excited about our defense.
Our infield is sound and making the routine
plays look routine."
Purdue will have to rely heavily on its de
-
fense as it replaces six of its top seven hitters
from last season, the lone exception being
Burkhardt, who hit .346 with 10 home runs
last season.
The lineup features three players new to
the program in true freshmen Maya Hughes
(center field) and Kaylah Hampton (catcher)
and JUCO transfer Katie Harrison (designated
player) in addition a pair of upperclassmen in
Alyssa Kooren (third basemen) and Sydney
Pencek (left field) who entered the season
with a combined three career starts.
Hampton shined over the weekend, ty
-
ing for a team-lead with five hits and driving
in three of Purdue's eight runs. Her solo shot
off the right field foul pole was Purdue's lone
hit Saturday against San Diego State.
"I thought our freshmen did a great job,"
Burkhardt said. "When we needed hits, they
came through for us. Kaylah Hampton is defi-
nitely one of those power hitters that we're
excited to have. I'm really pleased with what
our freshmen showed this weekend."
The remaining three position players
have more collegiate experience but none hit
higher than .217 last year. Shortstop Paris An-
drew started 47 games in the middle infield
last season and Kristen Hoppman saw signifi-
cant time at shortstop before she converted
to right field in the offseason. Second base-
man Mary Gooding started 18 times in the
same spot last year.
"We graduated seven seniors and 75 per-
cent of our offense," Schuette said. "Those five
or six kids played their entire career at Purdue.
We have a lot of new faces, but some of those
kids have been waiting for their shot."
Fecho thinks the new-look Boilermak-
ers made a statement over the weekend, al-
though their record may not be where they
want it to be.
"It says a lot about our team that we were
able to come back from some tough losses
and fight through and grind through and get
the win," Fecho said.
LOST PRODUCTION
Purdue is looking to replace the produc-
tion of last season's seven-player senior class,
including career hits and batting average re-
cord holder Andie Varsho.
Percentage of 2014 totals lost:
Hits: 248 of 433 (57.2)
RBIs: 123 of 216 (56.9)
Total bases: 383 of 652 (58.3)
Runs: 140 of 206 (68.0)j
Links
PurdueSports.com: No. 5 Illinois too much for men's tennis
PurdueSports.com: No. 38 Purdue upsets No. 25 Tulsa, 4-3, in women's tennis
PurdueSports.com: Charlton, Cox break own school records at Meyo Invite in track & field
PurdueSports.com: Trio of Purdue wrestlers win in loss to No. 16 Michigan
PurdueSports.com: Bissett wins 1-meter silver to cap Canadian Nationals
JCOnline.com: Bryant, Ghiselli ready to compete
Purdue
Catcher Kaylah Hampton went 5-for-15 with a home run
and double in her first weekend of collegiate softball.
