AMES, Iowa – The Drake University softball team fell to Iowa State, 6-5, on a chilly and rainy Wednesday afternoon at the Cyclone Sports Complex.
Senior Macie Silliman (Winterset, Iowa) led Drake's (21-15) offense with a 3-for-4 performance, scoring a run. Sophomore Laura Brewer (Waukee, Iowa) was 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple and two RBI. Junior Nicole Randel (Alpine, Calif.) was responsible for the other two RBI, on her third inning double and junior Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.) added two hits.
Junior Jordan Gronewold (Carlisle, Iowa) started for the Bulldogs before being relieved in the fourth inning by sophomore Rebekah Schmidt (Cottage Grove, Minn.). Gronewold allowed three runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings of work, while Schmidt pitched 2 2/3 innings and took the loss as her record falls to 9-8 on the season. Schmidt fanned four batters while allowing three runs on two hits.
The Bulldogs broke the scoreless game in the third inning, as senior Sam West (Kearney, Mo.) drew a leadoff walk and Silliman reached on an error before Randel drove both home with a two-out double. Iowa State (18-19) responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-2 lead.
Iowa State threatened again in the bottom of the fourth inning putting two runners in scoring position with one-out, but Schmidt worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a lineout to keep the Cyclones off the scoreboard.
The Bulldogs regained the lead in the top of the fifth, bringing across two runs to lead 4-3. After loading the bases with no out, sophomore Hayley Nybo (Minnetonka, Minn.) brought West home on a sacrifice fly to deep center field. Pierce scored later on a bases loaded walk.
Aly Cappaert regained the lead for the Cyclones, 5-4, with a two-run pinch-hit home run in the fifth inning. Iowa State added an insurance run in the sixth inning, with Sarah Hawryluk scoring on Erica Miller's sacrifice fly, to give the Cyclones a 6-4 lead. Hawryluk reached on a dropped third strike, advanced to second with a stolen base and made it to third on a passed ball.
With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Brewer scored Randel on a triple to left field. After walking Schmidt, Iowa State struck out sophomore Zeah Peterson (Baxter, Iowa) to end the game.
Drake hosts the Cyclones tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. at Ron Buel Field.
