Drake Downs North Dakota, 2-1, In Eight Innings

TULSA, Okla – Freshman Jordan Gronewold logged her first-career start, but it was senior Jenna DeLong who took home the win as the Drake University Softball team defeated North Dakota, 2-1, Friday at the Tulsa-City Center Festival. The Bulldogs improved to 7-6 overall.

Gronewold (Carlisle, Iowa) logged 4.2 innings pitched and allowed one run on four hits while striking out four. She exited in the fourth after ceding North Dakota's only run, allowing DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho) to finish the game for the win. DeLong threw 3.1 shutout innings and a sixth-inning walk was her only blemish. She improved to 5-2 on the season.

A third-inning Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz.) solo shot was Drake's lone run until an unearned run by sophomore Macie Silliman (Winterset, Iowa) in the eighth decided the contest.

Silliman was placed on second per international extra-inning rules and was bunted over to third by freshman Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.). Craddock followed with a grounder to the shortstop, scoring Silliman and putting Drake up 2-1.

DeLong worked out of a jam in the eighth, stranding Fighting Sioux centerfielder Kayelee Schoeny on third to stem the North Dakota rally. DeLong struck out Courtney Gonzales looking to end the game.

The win broke a five-game skid for the Bulldogs.

Drake meets Iowa State at 2:30 and Ohio State at 4:45 on Saturday.

Print Friendly Version