WICHITA, Kan. –The Wichita State Shockers softball team hit three home runs to defeat the Drake Bulldogs softball team, 8-4, on Sunday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium.
Nicole Randel (Alpine, Calif.) ripped a three-home run in the first inning to give Drake (26-19, 12-7 MVC) a 3-0 lead, but Hayley Temple of Wichita State (18-29, 9-12 MVC) answered with a three-home run in the bottom half of the frame to tie the score at 3-3.
Both teams were held scoreless over the next three innings, before Randel put the Bulldogs back ahead with a two-out RBI single that scored Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.) in the fifth inning. However, Drake didn't hold the lead for long as WSU responded with five runs on two home runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Melanie Jaegers started the inning off with a solo home off of sophomore Rebekah Schmidt (Cottage Grove, Minn.), who settled down after the home run to get straight two outs. After a walk by Temple, Drake second base man Lindsey Vande Wall (Prairie City, Iowa) committed an error on a ball hit by Abby Furstenberg that gave the Shockers new life. WSU drew another walk to load the bases for Brianna Bond, who blasted a grand slam over the left field wall to take an 8-4 advantage.
The Bulldogs were only able to scratch out one single by junior Cortney Wood (Alburnett, Iowa) over the final two innings as they lost their second straight contest.
Randel drove in all four of Drake's runs on two hits, while senior Macie Silliman (Winterset, Iowa) and Wood added two hits. Pierce scored two runs to set the new Drake single season runs scored record with 47. Randel has six home runs this season.
Schmidt pitched 4 1/3 innings allowing five runs (all unearned) on three hits with five walks as her record falls to 10-10 on the year. Starting pitcher Jordan Gronewold (Carlisle, Iowa) lasted just 2/3 of an inning allowing three runs on one hit and three walks.
Drake looks to bounce back with a busy week, which starts off with a home doubleheader with the first-place Creighton Bluejays on Tuesday night. First pitch against the Jays is set for 4 p.m. at Ron Buel Field.
