DES MOINES, IOWA - Drake's late-inning scoring in both games
of a doubleheader against Evansville gave the Bulldogs a home sweep of the
Purple Aces Saturday.
In game one the Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of
the seventh off a home run and two squeeze plays to defeat Evansville, 6-5. In the
second game Drake scored five runs in the fifth and two in the sixth for a 7-6
victory over the Purple Aces.
Down 5-3 entering in the seventh inning of the first game, Bridget Shields (Iowa City, Iowa/West) brought
the Bulldogs to within one at 5-4 with a home run to centerfield. Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe
Catholic) then singled and advanced to third off an Erin Bly (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) sacrifice bunt and a Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho/Coeur
d'Alene) single. After DeLong stole second, Molly McClelland (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) reached on a
fielder's choice, laying down a RBI sacrifice bunt which scored Craddock and
knotted the game at five apiece.
Erin Mollohan (Tinley
Park, Ill./Andrew) then drew a walk, loading the bases and Carrie Hatfield Des Moines, Iowa/East) collected the winning RBI
with a sacrifice bunt that scored Osborn.
Evansville scored got a two-run home run from Lissa Fehlman
to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the second.
Bly, McClelland and Mollohan each collected hits in the
bottom of the second to cut the Purple Aces' lead in half at 2-1.
Drake added two more runs in the bottom of the third when
McClelland singled to left field scoring Leon and Craddock, who reached on a
single and catcher's interference, respectively.
Evansville took a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth with two
runs off another Fehlman two-run home run and the Purple Aces added a run in
the seventh with a home run from Price.
McClelland led the Bulldogs with two hits and three RBI,
followed by Leon with two hits and Hatfield with one hit and two RBI. Drake had
seven players with at least one hit, collecting 10 hits for the game, along
with six RBI.
Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen,
Minn. (Chaska) started the game at the mound, striking out six in 6.1 innings. DeLong
collected the win for the Bulldogs, facing three batters in the seventh.
In game two, Evansville took a 4-0 lead, scoring two runs in
the top of the first, one each in the top of the third and fifth.
The Drake bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth,
scoring five runs on five hits and taking a 5-4 lead. Hatfield started the
inning with a triple to right field. Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) collected a walk and Shields doubled
down the right field line, advancing to third on the throw and scoring Hatfield
and Leon. Shields scored on a Craddock single
to center field and Bly singled, advancing Craddock to third. After a pitching
change by the Purple Aces, DeLong hit a two-RBI double to right center that
scored Craddock and Bly.
Leon hit her seventh home run of the season in the sixth inning.
It was a two-run shot to right center field that scored Mandy Osborn (Blair, Neb./Blair), who reached on a walk earlier in
the inning.
Evansville threatened in the seventh, scoring two runs off a
single by Krista Price, doubles from Kelci Aslip and Jennifer Stahlhut. DeLong,
who had pitched the first five innings of the game before being replaced by
Dordel, re-entered the game to retire the side and secure the win.
Bly led the Bulldogs, going 3-for-3 with one run scored.
Craddock was 2-for-4 with one RBI and Leon, Shields and DeLong had two RBI
apiece. DeLong collected the win, going six innings with eight strikeouts and five
hits allowed.
Drake faces Evansville Sunday (March 22) in the third game
of the conference series. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
