BATON ROUGE, La. – The Drake University softball team finished the Purple & Gold Challenge strong with a 4-2 victory over Purdue at Tiger Park on Sunday morning.

With Alex Echazarreta at second, and nobody out, the Boilermakers (7-8) struck first in the top of the fourth inning on a single up the middle by Olivia McFadden. Richards recovered to limit the damage as Purdue proceeded to leave two runners in scoring position.

Macy Johnson led off the bottom of the fourth with a great at-bat that turned into a single to left field and she promptly stole second base. Up next, Libby Ryan singled to right field as Johnson scored. Ryan advanced all the way to third on an error by the first baseman. With runners at second and third, Richards struck out swinging, but Ryan was able to score from third for a 2-1 Drake lead.

Still in the bottom of the fourth with two outs, Paige Bedsworth hit a sharp ground ball up the middle into center to score MaKayla Rice. Skylar Rigby singled to put runners at first and second. A wild pitch allowed Bedsworth to score from second base as the Bulldogs (4-6) plated four runs on four hits.  
 
Trailing 4-1 in the top of the sixth, Purdue got a run back on an RBI single placed to right field by Mo Wimpee. Mackenzie Hupke came on in relief and danced out of a bases loaded jam to keep the score in favor of Drake, 4-2.
 
Hupke (1) slammed the door for the save by setting down the Boilermakers 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh. Richards (2-2) pitched 5.2 innings allowing two earned runs while striking out a pair of batters to earn the win.

The Bulldogs move on to the John Cropp Classic hosted by Kentucky with four games March 4-5 in Lexington, Ky.