DES MOINES, Iowa – A fifth inning rally propelled the Drake University softball team past the Iowa State Cyclones, 4-3, Tuesday evening at Ron Buel Field.
Before the game, Drake (29-19, 14-7 MVC) recognized its three seniors, Macie Silliman (Winterset, Iowa), Lindsey Vande Wall (Prairie City, Iowa), and Sam West (Kearney, Mo.).
Junior Nicole Randel (Alpine, Calif.) led the Bulldogs' offense, going 2-for-3 and driving in the deciding two runs to give Drake the lead in the fifth inning. Vande Wall was 2-for-2 with one walk, while Silliman was 2-for-3 in their final home game.
Junior Jordan Gronewold (Carlisle, Iowa) started the game for the Blue and White, but had a rough outing pitching 1 1/3 innings, surrendering one run on five hits. Sophomore Rebekah Schmidt (Cottage Grove, Minn.) relieved Gronewold in the second inning, inheriting a bases loaded jam that she quickly worked out. Schmidt pitched 5 2/3 innings improving her record to 12-10 with the win as she allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits.
Iowa State (21-31, 4-11 Big XII) took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, with Erica Miller driving a ball to right field to score Brittany Gomez from second. The Cyclones also threatened in the second inning, loading the bases with one out, but were held scoreless by Schmidt. The Cyclones did add a pair of runs in the third inning increasing their lead to 3-0.
After being held scoreless for the first four innings, Drake finally made it on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring four runs in the frame to take a 4-3 lead. With the bases loaded and no outs, sophomore Zeah Peterson (Baxter, Iowa) reached on a fielder's choice, scoring pinch runner sophomore Sarah Ryan (Mount Vernon, Iowa) to give Drake its first run. Junior Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.) followed Peterson with a single to center field to plate junior Cortney Wood (Alburnett, Iowa). Two batters later Randel singled to left field scoring two to give Drake the lead.
Drake travels to the Missouri Valley Conference Softball Championship this week in Omaha, Neb as the Bulldogs are the No. 2 seed and received a bye to the semifinals. They will play the winner of the No. 3 Illinois State vs. No. 6 Missouri State/No. 7 Evansville game that will take place on Thursday night.
