NASHVILLE, Tenn.--The Drake softball team opened play Friday in the Lady Bison Classic at Lipscomb University with a pair of defeats at the hands of Eastern Michigan and host Lipscomb.

In the opener the Bulldogs ran into a determined Eastern Michgan club that was led by the dominant pitching of Jenna Ignowski, who went the distance to earn the 4-0 win. Ignowski allowed just two hits and three walks, while striking out four.

Drake freshman Hayley Nybo (Minnetonka, Minn.) and junior Lindsey Vande Wall (Prairie City, Iowa) delivered the Bulldogs' two hits in a tough offensive outing.

Eastern Michigan jumped in front 1-0 in the top of the first inning, and added two more runs in the fifth and one in the seventh.

Sophomore Jordan Gronewald (Carlisle, Iowa) started in the circle for Drake, and allowed three hits and three runs (one earned), with three walks and four strikeouts, in 4-2/3 innings of work. Gronewald, who took the loss, gave way to freshman Rebekah Schmidt (Cottage Grove, Minn.), who allowed two hits and one earned run in her 2-1/3 innings.

The Bulldogs faced another outstanding pitcher in game two, as the host Lady Bison received a complete-game performance and 11 strikeouts from Whitney Kiihnl in a 5-2 victory. Lipscomb provided all the run support it would need in the bottom of the second inning, pushing across three runs, and added another in the third and one more in the sixth.

Drake's two runs came in the top of the seventh after Nybo was hit by a pitch. Freshman Sarah Ryan (Mount Vernon, Iowa) came on to pinch-run and advanced to third on a base hit by Vande Wall. Ryan scored on a Gronewald hit, which was followed by a single to left field by sophomore Liz Buck (Overland Park, Kan.) to load the bases. Vande Wall came around to score when senior Jamie Duffek (Brookfield, Ill.) reached base on an error.

Schmidt started the game and lasted two-plus innings, giving up six hits and four earned runs with one walk to take the loss. Gronewald pitched well in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three in four innings in the circle.

The Bulldogs will conclude play in the Lady Bison Classic on Saturday with games against Alabama State (10 a.m.) and Middle Tennessee (2:30 p.m.). Drake opens Missouri Valley Conference play next Saturday, March 17, at Indiana State.