FAYETTEVILLE, ARK.
- Junior pitcher Brynne Dordel tossed a two-hit shutout to lead the Drake
University softball team past Eastern Illinois, 3-0, in its final game of the
Razorback Invitational, Sunday. Dordel struck out a season-high 12 batters and
allowed just two walks on the day.
The Bulldogs gave Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn.) a 1-0 lead
in the first after senior Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa) drew a leadoff
walk and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly by junior Erin Bly
(Frankfort, Ill.).
Dordel faced the minimum and struck out six through three
innings before allowing the Panthers to load the bases in the fourth. The
junior forced an inning-ending lineout to sophomore second baseman Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz.) to halt the Eastern Illinois threat.
Drake padded its lead to three in the sixth with a home
run by freshman Lindsey Vande Wall (Prairie City, Iowa), her second of the
season, and an RBI double by junior Erin Mollohan (Tinley Park, Ill.).
Dordel allowed two runners in the seventh before striking
out the final two batters of the game to give Drake the 3-0 victory. The junior's
total of 12 strikeouts was the highest of her career since an eight-inning,
13-strikeout effort against George Mason on Feb. 23, 2008.
The win moved Drake to 9-5 on the season.
The Bulldogs travel to Clearwater, Fla. for the USF Under
Armour Tournament next weekend. Drake opens the tournament with a 9:30 a.m.
matchup against Pittsburgh on Friday.
