WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Amanda Guercio was 2-for-3 with three RBI but Indiana State left 11 runners on base in a 5-4, 8-inning loss in the first game of a doubleheader at Purdue Wednesday afternoon.
 
Guercio's first at bat was a two-run home run to left center to give the Sycamores a 2-0 lead in the second inning. But Purdue would respond with four runs in the bottom half of the frame – three scoring unearned. Guercio would tie the game with an RBI single in the third that followed Shaye Barton's RBI single. But both teams would be unable to push a run across in the remainder of regulation.
 
After ISU stranded a pair of runners in the top half of the eighth, Purdue's Jenny Behan led off the bottom half of the inning with a double to right center. Following a walk, she raced home on Lexi Huffman's double to right for the clinching run.
 
Indiana State tied a season-high four stolen bases and it marked the second time in three games against Big Ten opponents that the Trees registered 10-plus hits but it also marked the third time this year ISU has stranded 10-plus runners.
 
Arielle Blankenship (5-5) was charged with the loss despite performing yeoman's work in relief, allowing just the one run on four hits in four innings. Sydney Bates (8-4), one of three Purdue pitchers, was credited with the win after holding the Sycamores scoreless over 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out three.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Amanda Guercio claims this honor with her 2 hits, 3 RBI and a run scored including her second home run of the season.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
Amanda Guercio's blast in the second inning made this the third time in four games a Sycamore hitter has hit a home run.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Sydney Bates, Purdue (8-4)
• Loss: Arielle Blankenship, Indiana State (5-5)
• Save: None

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 11-16 (3-7 Away)
• Purdue: 23-10 (2-1 Home)

NOTABLES

• Indiana State falls to 17-19 all-time against Purdue.
• This marks the third extra-inning game of the season for the Sycamores. Indiana State is 2-1 in extra-inning games this year.
• Amanda Guercio hit her second home run of the season in the game. It marked the third time in four games a Sycamore has hit a home run.
• The Sycamores tied a season-high four stolen bases in the game.

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