153 pitches, web gems, timely hits lead Purdue softball to first Big Ten tourney win since 2019
Purdue softball's sophomore pitcher danced around danger for seven innings, but with the Bittinger Stadium lights beating down on her Wednesday night, Gossett was the one shining brightest.
Handed the ball as a freshman in her first Big Ten tournament game last season, Gossett lasted just one inning, giving up three runs in a loss to Indiana.
Gossett's final pitch was lined right into the glove of shortstop Ashlynn Campbell, sending Purdue into the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals against Ohio State with a 4-2 victory over Northwestern, the first conference tournament victory for the Boilermakers since beating Rutgers in 2019.
"She is clutch," Purdue third baseman Sage Scarmardo said. "We don't like to dwell on things that happened in the past. This sport is a game of failure. Every team in the Big Ten is going to be a great team. Julia comes into every game with confidence."
Insider mailbag: What will Purdue's offense look like? What's next for Boilers basketball?
How confident?
Two solo home runs, three RBIs and 10 strikeouts worth of confidence.
"The whole team has been fired up since last year," Gossett said. "We've been working all season to be in this moment and go on a run in this tournament."
Purdue, playing without starting outfielders Jordyn Ramos and Moriah Polar, the team's leading hitter, after they collided going after a fly ball on Saturday, wasn't going to let excuses get in the way.
Instead, the Boilermakers relied on solid defense, including back-to-back web gems from Scarmardo in the fifth inning, and a heads-up observation from assistant coach Heather Gelbard that altered the game right when Northwestern struck.
Pinch hitter Avery Garden tripled in a run in the fourth with no outs, putting the tying run at third base. Gelbard alerted Purdue coach Maggie Frezzotti that Northwestern's Bridget Donahey left first base before Gossett released the pitch.
Purdue won a challenge, forcing Donahey out and sending Garden back to the batter's box. Gossett struck her out and followed with another strikeout to seize all the momentum the Wildcats felt they'd just gained.
An inning later, with Northwestern already plating one run with two runners on base and no outs, Scarmardo scaled the protective mesh netting separating the playing field from the bleachers to make an improbable catch, only to one-up herself one pitch later.
Kansas Robinson attempted a squeeze bunt, but Scarmardo, on a full sprint, shoveled the ball with her glove from the dirt to catcher Delaney Reefe, who applied the tag.
"Sage was a beast. She was such a leader today," Frezzotti said. "She led with action. She led with confidence. She led with an assertive mindset.
"Julia was out of her mind and Sage was out of her mind, but I did feel everybody was ready for the one pitch. They made plays."
Reefe would return the favor in the bottom of the seventh when she put a throw on the money to Scarmardo to catch Northwestern attempting to steal third.
"We practice those all the time and practice how you play, right?" Scarmardo said. "I wanted to show, not just Julia, but all our pitchers that this defense has their back and no matter where the ball is hit on this field, one of us is going to take care of it."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Steelers Sign Former Browns Offensive Tackle
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed offensive tackle Julian Pearl, the team announced on Monday afternoon. Pearl, who's in his second-year as a pro, was last with the Cleveland Browns. He tried out for the Steelers last week, and was on his way to another when he got a call from his agent and re-routed to Pittsburgh. Pearl signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. He was also selected by the Michigan Panthers as the sixth overall selection in the 2024 UFL draft on July 17. After being waived by the Ravens in late August, Pearl was signed to the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad on Oct. 29. He was released a month later. Pearl then signed with the Cleveland Browns' practice squad on Dec. 10. He signed a reserve/future contract with Cleveland in January, and remained with the team until being waived on Aug. 4. Pearl, who stands at 6-foot-6, 315 pounds, played six years at the University of Illinois. He was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media) in his senior year in 2023. He started all 12 games at left tackle that season. He made 23 consecutive starts at left tackle since missing a game at Indiana on Sept. 2, 2022. In 2023, he was named Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten second team and Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten third team. Rookie offensive tackle was evaluated for a concussion in Saturday night's preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Steelers have also been without backup tackle Calvin Anderson, who has been out with a lower-body soft tissue injury. For depth, the Steelers also signed veteran offensive lineman Andrus Peat on Aug. 7. Peat, 31, is a 10-year NFL vet. The first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints out of Stanford in 2015, he spent nine seasons in New Orleans. Peat played left tackle and left guard for the Saints and started 102 games out of 111 games played in New Orleans. Alan Saunders provided reporting for this story. This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Sign Former Browns Offensive Tackle Related Headlines Steelers WR Target Expected to Visit With Another AFC Foe Daily News & Links: Baldy Breakdown on Kaleb Johnson; Jim Nantz is Bullish on Steelers Queen: Steelers LB Payton Wilson Has Room to Grow Steelers Afternoon Drive: Injury Updates, WR News
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Steelers Add to OLB Depth With Powerful Michigan State Alum
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed former Minnesota Vikings and Michigan State edge rusher Kenny Willekes, the team announced on Tuesday. Willekes, 28, tried out with the Steelers on Monday. A seventh-round pick of the Vikings in the 2020 NFL Draft, he spent three seasons in Minnesota, but dealt with significant injury issues. He played just six games with the Vikings, recording 18 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one pass defended. Willekes was released by the Vikings in 2023, and spent the last two springs playing for the Michigan Panthers of the UFL. He played nine games in 2024, recording 20 tackles and four sack, and then nine games this spring, including seven starts, racking up 31 tackles and 3.5 sacks. The Steelers are dealing with a couple of injuries at the outside linebacker position. Alex Highsmith has been out since the middle of training camp with a groin injury and Nick Herbig suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday's second preseason game that will likely keep him out this week. That leaves just five other outside linebackers on the roster and T.J. Watt will probably not take many reps this week, if any. The 6-foot-3, 264-pound Willekes is a Rockford, Michigan native and walked on to Michigan State in 2015. He became a starter in 2017 and was the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the year after his 2018 season. He set the MSU career record for tackles for loss and won the 2019 Burlsworth Trophy as college football's best former walk on. Willekes had average pre-draft testing running numbers, with a 4.87-second 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Combine, but put up a strong 32 reps on the bench press. He had an overall Relative Athletic Score of 7.29. As a corresponding transaction for signing Willekes, the Steelers waived offensive tackle Gareth Warren with an injury designation. Their preseason roster remains at 91 players. This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Add to OLB Depth With Powerful Michigan State Alum Related Headlines Steelers Afternoon Drive: Gabe Davis Update, Heyward Ends Hold-In Steelers WR Target Leaves Facility Without Contract Mason Rudolph Pleased With Offensive Performance In Preseason Saunders: Is Mike Tomlin Sending a Message to Potentially Elite Steelers Secondary?
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
SEC dumps cupcake feast with football schedule expansion. Your move, Big Ten
The SEC just tossed one of its cupcakes into the rubbish bin. Thank goodness. Good riddance. About time. In news that ought to be welcomed by any college football fan who enjoys compelling matchups, instead of games against overmatched directional schools, the SEC announced Thursday, Aug. 21 it will increase to playing nine conference games starting in 2026. That will equal the number of conference games played by the Big Ten and Big 12. Importantly, the SEC still will require its members play at least one non-conference game against either a Power Four opponent or Notre Dame. Let me translate that: SEC teams will be required to play a minimum of 10 games against opponents seated at the big-kids table, leaving room for a maximum of two cupcake games. Hallelujah. Too many irrelevant games had long been one of the few stains on college football's regular season. This decision by the SEC helps rectify that. This move also makes the Big Ten's scheduling model look pitiable. Your move, Tony Petitti. SEC stiffening schedule puts ball in Big Ten's court The Big Ten plays nine conference games, but its members are not required to play a Power Four non-conference opponent. Some Big Ten teams choose to play a marquee non-conference clash, but others – cough, cough, Indiana, cough, cough – pursue the path of least resistance and avoid any non-conference opponent with a pulse. Penn State's non-conference lineup this season consists of Nevada, Florida International and Villanova. That's a bad joke, and unless the Big Ten addresses its scheduling, it won't enjoy a leg to stand on when trying to stump for its members' résumés compared to those forged in the SEC. Six Big Ten teams will not play a single non-conference game against a Power Four opponent this season. For years, the Big Ten fans and coaches held one good card in arguments against SEC peers about which league played a tougher schedule: The Big Ten played one additional conference game compared to the SEC. The SEC would counter that its conference, top to bottom, was stronger than other conferences, but it could not escape the reality that its membership collectively feasted on more cupcakes than other leagues. No more. The SEC's addition of another conference game while maintaining its Power Four non-conference requirement solidifies its strength of schedule campaign and leaves the Big Ten standing on its back foot. SEC aces offseason while Big Ten monkeys around While the Big Ten spent the offseason floating absurd College Football Playoff formats that failed to gain traction, the SEC deftly moved chess pieces to strengthen its positioning in the playoff construct that currently exists – and might continue to exist in 2026 and beyond. First, the SEC waged an offseason messaging campaign focused on its desire for the playoff selection committee to more greatly consider strength of schedule when awarding at-large bids. That campaign hit pay dirt this week. The CFP announced that, effective immediately, it will more greatly weight victories against good competition, minimize the penalty for losses against tough teams, and devalue triumphs over cupcakes. Next, the SEC positioned itself to further capitalize on the CFP's strength of schedule tweaks by adding a ninth conference game. To stick the landing, the SEC could cement a 16-team, 5+11 playoff model that would unlock access to up to 75% of the playoff bracket, while knowing it enjoys the strongest cards in strength of schedule debates. And what's the Big Ten been up to? Well, teams like Nebraska and Indiana got busy canceling future Power Four opponents while filling their plate with tasty cupcakes. Great move, guys. Enjoy those empty calories. There's really only one move for the Big Ten to make. It must reinstate an old requirement that membership play at least 10 games against Power Four opponents. Maybe, Indiana can tape together that contract it tore up when it decided to duck Virginia. Better yet, the Big Ten could stop playing catchup and get ahead of the game by requiring not 10 but 11 total games against Power Four opponents, thereby gaining a trump card over the SEC. Let's hear it, Big Ten. Are you willing to join the SEC and dispose of some cupcake games? The SEC making this overdue decision to add a ninth conference game places it in an unimpeachable position for future résumé debates. The Big Ten's only response can be to add more meat to its schedule. Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@ and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
