Purdue Calumet Sustains Setbacks Against Three National Contenders Saturday in Gulf Shores, Ala.

PUC-PeregrinsThe Purdue University Calumet softball team wasn't able to capitalize on chances in three setbacks to nationally-ranked teams in a Saturday triple-header in the Gulf Shores (Ala.) Invitational.

The Peregrines (2-3) fell to No. 2-ranked William Carey (8-2), No. 20-ranked Brenau (7-1) and Our Lady of the Lake (6-5), which is receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll.

Purdue Calumet will compete in Sunday's bracket play with times and opponents still to be announced.

Live stats are available for select games http://portal.stretchinternet.com/puc/ and live updates will be provided for all contests at the official Twitter account for #PeregrineNation, @PurdueCalSports.

#20 BRENAU 7, PURDUE CALUMET 1
The Peregrines struck first, scoring the games' first run on an Alison Kimble RBI walk with the bases loaded in the first inning, but were unable to stop a strong Brenau (13-1) attack that totaled 12 hits on the evening. Freshmen Kaitlin Skarecky, Kellie Mink, and Lea Hall all singled to start the inning to load the bases with no outs, but Kimble's walk proved to be the lone RBI in the inning.

The Golden Tigers scored two runs in the second and then added three in the fourth and two in the fifth to build a solid lead that the Peregrines, playing in their third-straight game, weren't able to overcome. Skarecky finished with two hits and teammates Alicia Ward, Alex Morales and Samantha Oppenhuis also added singles in the setback.

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE 6, PURDUE CALUMET 5
The Peregrines started their second game of the day hot, scoring two runs in the first inning after seniors Alicia Ward and Skyler Woods both singles to start the Peregrine offense. Both would later score, as freshmen Alex Morales and Kaitlyn Skarecky (single) recorded RBI.

The Saints (11-4) would answer with solo shot by Taylor Doege in the second, but the Peregrines exploded for three runs in the top of the third, capitalizing on two OLLU errors. Woods came up with a big hit in that inning, belting a two-run single and Morales added another RBI to build the Peregrine lead to 5-1.

Our Lady of the Lake slowly began to chip away at the Peregrines' lead, scoring two runs in the fourth, one in the sixth, and the game-winning two runs in the seventh, as Doege played the hero with a two-out, two-RBI single with the bases loaded.

The Peregrines left 11 runners on base in the game, totaled 10 hits and committing just one error.

Woods finished the contest 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and a triple and senior teammate Alison Kimble went 2-for-4. Ward, Skarecky, Lea Hall, Kellie Mink, and Jess Loy all added singles for the Peregrines in the setback.

Mink had a strong showing in her first career outing in the circle, scattering five hits, walking none and allowing three earned runs in 5.0 innings. Junior Shelbie Jones (1-1) took the loss in relief.

#2 WILLIAM CAREY 8, PURDUE CALUMET 2
Sophomore Samantha Oppenhuis drilled her first home run of her career and added three hits and a pair of RBI, but untimely miscues spelled an 8-2 loss to No. 2 William Carey Saturday.

The Peregrines (2-1) are scheduled to play two more games in Saturday's pool play at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex, as Purdue Calumet takes on Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) at noon and No. 20 Brenau (Ga.) at 4 p.m.

In Saturday's Game 1 against the Crusaders (9-6) - the NAIA National-Runners-up in 2014 - Oppenhuis finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate, including a big solo blast to left field that cut the William Carey lead to one, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth.

The Crusaders struck first in the game with a run in the first, capitalizing off a Peregrine error with two outs. William Carey would add another score in the fourth and another Peregrine order - Purdue Calumet would finish with seven errors for the game, compared to zero for the Crusaders.

The Peregrines would get one more score in the fifth, as an Oppenhuis bloop single to the right field line scored senior teammate Skyler Woods who singled and stole second base.

Purdue Calumet freshman Alex Morales went 2-for-2 with a walk and teammates Lea Hall, Ashley Adams, and Olivia Donley each had singles in the setback.

Senior Alison Kimble took the loss in the circle, giving up two earned runs, allowing six hits, and striking out five.