TEMPE, Ariz. – The Drake University softball team split its games on the opening day of the Diamond Devil Invitational defeating Idaho State, 12-4, before falling to Boston College, 11-8.
Drake (1-11) found its groove offensively in its opening contest against Idaho State (5-3) scoring 12 runs on 14 hits, including two home runs. The Bulldogs' 12 runs surpassed the total runs the team had scored coming into the game.
Senior Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.) was 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs batted in and a stolen base. Senior Cortney Wood (Alburnett, Iowa) was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs batted in and scored three runs. Senior Nicole Randel (Alpine, Calif.) and junior Hayley Nybo (Minnetonka, Minn.) each blasted their first home runs of the season.
Junior Rebekah Schmidt (Cottage Grove, Minn.) earned her first win of the year, pitching a complete game for the Bulldogs. Schmidt allowed four runs (two earned) on eight hits, while striking out three Bengals and working around a season-high six errors.
Sparked by Randel's home run to open the frame, Drake scored five runs in the second inning, to take an early lead of 5-1. Pierce plated two runs with her two-out double to the wall to cap the big inning. The Bulldogs added runs in the fourth and fifth innings, two in the fifth and closed with three in the seventh. Pierce and Schmidt had RBI doubles in the seventh, while senior Liz Buck (Overland Park, Kan.) tallied a sacrifice fly.
Schmidt got the call in the circle for the second game against Boston College (4-3) but lost the decision, as her record moves to 1-6 overall. The junior pitched her second complete game of the day, and allowed 11 runs on 12 hits. She struck out five batters, but gave up three home runs.
Nybo had another good game at the plate going 2-for-4 with two doubles and three runs batted in. Randel was 2-for-4 with a triple, while freshman Megan Sowa (Gurnee, Ill.) was 2-for-3.
Once again, the second inning proved to be key for the Bulldogs as they tallied seven runs. With the bases loaded, Buck opened the scoring with a one-out single that scored Sowa. Pierce followed with a single of her own, plating two runners. Nybo had a RBI double in the inning, and Randel came home safely on a wild pitch to give Drake an early 7-0 lead.
Alana DiMaso hit a three-run home run off the scoreboard for the Eagles to make the score 8-6 in the sixth inning as Boston College scored four runs in the frame.
In the seventh inning the Eagles evened the game at 8-8 with a RBI fielder's choice and a RBI single and completed the rally with a three-run home blast from Tatiana Cortez.
The Bulldogs have two games scheduled for tomorrow, facing Seton Hall and Boston College for the second time. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. CST against the Pirates and 1:15 p.m. CST against the Eagles.
