FRESNO, Calif. -- The Drake University softball team
dropped a 3-0 decision to No. 11 California, Sunday in its final matchup at the
Bayer Crop Science Classic. The Bulldogs moved to 10-10 on the season.
Senior pitcher Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho)
went the distance against the Golden Bears, striking out six and allowing three
runs (one earned) on seven hits to take the loss. Her record fell to 5-4 overall.
California
ace Jolene Henderson was nearly untouchable, allowing just three hits and
striking out seven to improve to 14-2 overall.
The Bulldog defense helped DeLong surrender just one run
after Cal loaded the bases with no outs in the first but relapsed with two
errors in a two-run fifth. Drake recorded three-straight outs in the first,
allowing just a single run, but made back-to-back errors in the fifth to help
the Golden Bears pad their lead.
Drake rallied in the sixth, advancing sophomore Macie Silliman (Winterset, Iowa)
to third and junior Jaimie Duffek to second with two outs and freshman Jordan
Gronewold (Carlisle, Iowa) at the plate. Gronewold grounded out
to Henderson to
end the threat.
Senior Erin Mollohan (Tinley Park,
Ill.), Duffek and sophomore Sam West (Kearney, Mo.)
tallied a hit each for the Bulldogs.
Drake meets Pacific on Tuesday (March 15) in Stockton,
Calif. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
