MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. -- The Drake softball team improved to 2-0 with a 6-5 victory
over Arkansas at the Metrodome Classic in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on
Friday (Feb. 13).
Junior Mandy Osborn (Blair,
Neb./Blair) collected her first win of the season, going 3.2 innings in relief
for sophomore Brynne Dordel
(Chanhassen, Minn. /Chaska) . Osborn struck out one and walked one in 3.2
innings while Dordel struck out five and walked three in 3.1 innings.
Arkansas got on the board in the top of the first,
capitalizing on two walks and a wild pitch. With runners on second and third,
Miranda Dixon singled into center, scoring Kayla Johnson and Tori Mort.
The Bulldogs got an answer from junior Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) who homered down the
left-field line in the bottom of the first.
Arkansas score one run in each of the top of the fourth and
fifth.
The Bulldogs tallied three runs in the bottom of the fifth
to tie the game at four apiece. It began with Bridget
Shields (Iowa City, Iowa/West) getting hit by a pitch followed by Erin
Mollohan (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) doubling to left center, scoring
Shields.
Sophomore Molly McClelland (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) was hit by a pitch before McClelland and Mollohan advanced to second
and third, respectively on a wild pitch. With runners in scoring position, freshman
Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe
Catholic) struck out swinging, advancing to first on a wild pitch and scoring Mollohan. McClelland also scored on a wild pitch to close the Bulldogs' scoring for the inning.
Arkansas took a one-run lead in the top of the seventh off a
home run by Dixon.
Mollohan opened the bottom of the seventh, hitting her
second home run of the season to tie the game at five apiece. McLelland singled to left field, forcing
Arkansas to make a pitching change. Craddock, Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene) and junior Kelsey Kahler (North Liberty, Iowa/Clear Creek-Amana) drew three consecutive base on balls, giving
the Bulldogs the winning walk-off walk.
Leon, Mollohan and DeLong each collected two hits for the
Bulldogs.
Drake returns to the field tomorrow as the Bulldogs face
Western Illinois at 4 p.m. and Northern Iowa at 8 p.m.
