RBI Fielder's Choice Lifts Drake Past Florida Atlantic In Extra Innings, 2-1

LAS VEGAS, NEV. - Junior Kelsey Kahler (North Liberty, Iowa/Clear Creek-Amana) delivered an RBI fielder's choice in the top of the eighth inning plating junior Mandy Osborn (Blair, Neb./Blair) from third base to lift Drake (8-4) to a 2-1 victory over Florida Atlantic (9-8) on Friday (Feb. 27) at the Eller Media Tournament.

Sophomore Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska) went the distance in the circle for the Bulldogs striking out seven to improve to 5-0, while Carrie Ann Potter suffered the loss for the Owls to fall to 3-1 on the campaign.

Junior Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) led off the game drilling a 1-2 Potter offering to center field. Junior Bridget Shields (Iowa City, Iowa/West) moved Leon up 60 feet to third base on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt. Leon came across the dish on a wild pitch to put Drake up 1-0.

Dordel remained in control on the mound until the bottom of the sixth as only one Florida Atlantic runner reached as far as second base in that span.

Blair Bodenmiller began the bottom of the sixth with a single off the out-stretched glove of Dordel and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Amy Bukovich sacrificed Bodenmiller to third before Caitlyn Bliss plated the equalizing run on a sacrifice bunt. An errand throw attempting to cut down Bliss at first on the bunt sailed into right field allowing her to advance to second. Dordel minimized the damage inducing an Amber Barton groundout and fanning Rose Gressley.

Both sides went down in order in the seventh to set the stage for Kahler's heroics in the eighth.

Each team registered three hits apiece, with Leon, freshman Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic) and sophomore Erin Mollohan (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) accounting for Drake's hits.

The Bulldogs return to the field this evening as Drake faces Loyola Marymount in an 8:00 p.m. tilt.

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