TULSA, Okla -
The Drake University softball team split its Saturday slate at the Tulsa City
Center Festival, falling 3-2 to Iowa State and taking a 10-4 victory over Ohio
State. The Bulldogs moved to 8-7 on the season.
Drake opened the day with a 3-2 loss to Iowa State,
during which the Cyclones scored all three of their runs in the seventh inning.
With the Bulldogs leading 2-0 in the final frame, Iowa State slapped three hits
and took advantage of a pivotal Drake error to gain a 3-2 advantage. The
Bulldogs went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to cede victory to
Iowa State.
Senior Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho) took the loss after tossing a two-hit shutout
through six innings, but allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits in the
seventh. The senior struck out 12 and walked three to move to 5-3 on the
season.
Jaimie Duffek
(Brookfield, Ill.) scored the game's first run on a second-inning, bases-loaded
walk by freshman Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.). Duffek had one
of four hits for Drake.
Freshman Jordan Gronewold (Carlisle, Iowa) earned her first-career win and hit her
first-career home run in the nightcap, a 10-4 Drake victory over Ohio State.
The freshman allowed three runs on six hits in 2.1 innings of work, but was
saved by a big night from the Bulldog bats, including her own.
Drake scored six runs in the first two innings, including
four unearned runs off of two Buckeye errors in the second inning.
Gronewold went yard in a two-run Drake fourth inning to
move Drake's run total to eight. A two-run fifth put Drake's total at its final
tally.
DeLong went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI from the
leadoff spot, moving her season batting average to a team-best .410. Pierce
scored three times from the two-hole, while junior Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz.) drove in a pair from the third
position in the order.
Senior pitcher Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn.) closed out the final 4.2 innings in the circle,
allowing one run on eight hits while striking out five.
The Bulldogs meet Troy next Friday (March 11) in Fresno,
Calif. at the Bayer Crop Science Classic. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30
a.m.
