Drake Falls, 2-1, To Iowa State In 10-Inning Thriller

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University softball team dropped a 2-1, 10-inning marathon to Iowa State Tuesday at Ron Buel Field. The loss, which lasted two hours, 33 minutes, dropped Drake to 24-14 on the season.

The Bulldogs found themselves in familiar territory in the bottom of the seventh, as freshman Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.) stepped to the plate with the game on the line and the bases loaded with two outs. Pierce, who slapped a two-run single to beat Iowa last Wednesday in a similar situation, lined out to shallow right field to end the Bulldog threat and send the game to extras.

The teams traded scoreless innings until Iowa State scored on a Drake error in the 10th to go up 2-1. The Bulldogs went in order in the bottom half of the frame to end the game.

Pitching ruled the day for both teams. Drake senior Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn.) got the start and tossed 5.1 innings, striking out six and allowing one unearned run on five hits for a no-decision. Her six strikeouts put her 662 for her career, eight shy of the all-time Drake mark of 670.

Freshman Jordan Gronewold (Carlisle, Iowa) entered in the sixth and finished the rest of the game. Gronewold took the hard-luck loss after tossing 4.2 innings and allowing 1 unearned run on three hits while striking out one. The freshman fell to 1-2 on the season.

Cyclone pitcher Rachel Zabriskie went the distance for her 12th win of the season. Zabriskie struck out eight, walked four and allowed one unearned run on six hits in 10 full innings of work.

The Cyclones stranded 12 runners on the day, including five in the extra frames.

Freshman Lindsey Vande Wall (Prairie City, Iowa) led Drake with two hits. Sam West (Kearney, Mo.) scored the lone Bulldog run in the third on a Gronewold sacrifice fly to right field.

The Bulldogs look to return the favor with a 4 p.m. game at Iowa State on Thursday.

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