OMAHA, Neb. – The Drake University softball team defeated Omaha, 10-4, in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday night to salvage a split with the Mavericks who blanked the Bulldogs, 8-0, in the first game.
 
Drake (21-12) and Omaha (18-20) traded runs in the first four innings of the second game as the score was tied at 4-4 after four. The Bulldogs broke out for four runs in the fifth by sending 10 batters to plate. Junior Megan Sowa (Gurnee, Ill.), who was pinch hitting, drew a bases loaded walk for the first run and sophomore Kelsey Wright (Olathe, Kan.) followed with a two-run single. Two batters later, sophomore Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) also drew a bases loaded walk to score the final run in the inning.   
 
The Bulldogs added to their lead in the sixth inning with two more runs. Junior Kaitlyn Finneran (Morrison, Ill.) drove in one run with a sacrifice fly and Wright drove in another run with a double that plated sophomore Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa).
 
Smith earned her second-straight win in the circle with another solid relief appearance of senior Mariah McKinnon (Oxford, Iowa). Smith allowed just two runs (one earned) on three hits in four innings with three strikeouts to improve to 2-2 on the season. She allowed both runs in her first inning of work, but allowed just one hit in the final three innings. McKinnon pitched three innings and allowed two runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
 
Wright finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and three runs batted in while junior Ashlie Chambers (Ankeny, Iowa) went 3-for-5. Freshman Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.) blasted her second career home run and finished with three RBI. Alexander and Pena each had two hits.
 
Drake's bats were quiet in the first game Wednesday as Omaha pitcher Laura Roecker tossed a five-inning no hitter. Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits in three innings as her record dropped to 14-5.
 
Drake returns to MVC play this weekend at Loyola for a three-game series with the Ramblers. The Loyola series will start on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon and the series finale will be Sunday at noon.