DES MOINES, IOWA - In what could be compared to an old fashion wild-west
shootout, Bradley scored the game-winning run in the 10th inning to register a
12-11 victory over Drake in the nightcap of a twinbill in softball action on
Saturday (March 27) at Buel Field.
The Braves (11-13, 2-2 MVC) jumped to a 4-0 advantage in the
contest before the Bulldogs (17-7, 1-1 MVC) plated singles tallies in the
fourth and fifth innings, respectively, to cut the deficit to 4-2.
Bradley added a single run in the top of the sixth to assume
a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the frame.
Loading the bases with one down in the sixth, senior Kelsey Kahler (North
Liberty, Iowa) collected an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left to drive in senior
Bridget Shields
(Iowa City, Iowa).
Advancing to third and scoring, respectively, on a wild
pitch was junior Molly McClelland (West Des Moines, Iowa) and senior Carrie Hatfield (Des Moines, Iowa). An RBI single by senior Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa) plated
McClelland to square the game at five.
Bradley capitalized with a four-run outburst on only one hit
in the top of the seventh to take a 9-5 lead.
Trailing by four, the Bulldogs opened their final at-bat
with three consecutive singles, including an RBI double by junior Erin Mollohan (Tinley Park, Ill.).
After a pitching change by the Braves, Hatfield delivered a
one-out two RBI double to the gap in left center to cut the margin to 9-8. Freshman Macie Silliman (Winterset, Iowa) pinch ran for
Hatfield and advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored the game-tying
run on a passed ball.
Each side scored two runs in the eighth and was held
scoreless in the ninth to send the game into the 10th tied at 11. Vande Wall belted her sixth home run of
the season and second of the day with no runners on in the eighth.
Junior Erin Bly (Frankfort, Ill.) paced Drake with a 3-for-5 effort, while
Leon and sophomore Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz.) each contributed a pair of base hits.
Senior Mandy Osborn (Blair, Neb.) suffered the loss for the Bulldogs to
fall to 0-1 on the year, allowing one run on two hits in two innings of
work. Amanda Clack tossed four
innings of relief to improve to 7-3.
The two sides close out their weekend series with a single
game on Sunday (March 28) at 12:00 p.m.
