TUSCON, Ariz. – The Drake University softball team edged Boston College, 3-1, on Saturday night at the Wildcat Invitational. Earlier in the day, No. 10 Arizona defeated Drake (6-4), 21-0, in five innings.
Drake and Boston College (5-2) were each held scoreless through the first three innings. Junior pitcher
Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.), who earned the win in the circle over the Eagles to improve to 4-2, helped her cause with an RBI single in the fourth innings to put the Bulldogs up 1-0. Later
Gabbie Jonas (Omaha, Neb.) drove in Drake's second run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
Boston College scored its only run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a two-out RBI double. Newman settled down and struck out the next Eagle to get out of the inning. Freshman
Sarah Maddox (Henderson, Nev.) added an insurance run in the seventh inning with her third home run of the season, a solo shot.
Newman tossed her second-straight complete game. She allowed one unearned run on four hits with 11 strikeouts. It is the fourth time this season, Newman has recorded 10 or more strikeouts.
No. 10 Arizona (9-0) seized control of the early game with a 10-run first inning, and later added four runs in the second, two in third and five in the fourth inning.
Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa) drew a one-out walk for the Bulldogs' first base runner in the fourth inning and
Megan Sowa (Gurnee, Ill.) followed with a single up the middle. Drake couldn't capitalize as
Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.) and Maddox were retired to end the threat. In the fifth inning,
Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.) singled to start the frame and
Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) followed with a walk. However, that was all for the Bulldogs as
Kaitlyn Finneran (Morrison, Ill.) flied out and
Ashlie Chambers (Ankeny, Iowa) grounded into a double play to end the game.
Smith took the loss as she allowed 15 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits and five walks in 2.0 innings of work. She dropped to 2-2 on the season. Kennedy and Frank each had one hit against the Wildcats.
Drake closes the Wildcat Invitational Sunday against Abilene Christian at 12 p.m.
