WEST LAFAYETTE − It took 153 pitches but Julia Gossett finally released a year’s worth of weight off her shoulders.
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’s 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.”
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 head coach Maggie Frezzotti that Northwestern’s Bridget Donahey left first base before Gossett released the pitch.
HAVE A NIGHT, @JuliaGossett23 #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/McIHYQwQvc
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.
A PERFECTLY EXECUTED SQUEEZE PLAY
The @PurdueSoftball defense came to play #B1GSoftball on BTN pic.twitter.com/NyUrFbwhYi
“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.”
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: ‘Out of her mind’: Purdue pitcher waited a year for moment, seized it with her bat and arm
Reporting by Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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