TEMPE, Ariz. – The Drake University softball team concluded action at the Diamond Devil Invitational with a matchup against No. 4 Arizona State falling to the powerhouse, 9-1 in six innings, on Sunday morning.
For the fifth consecutive game, junior Rebekah Schmidt (Cottage Grove, Minn.) earned the start in the circle for Drake (2-13). In 5.2 innings pitched, Schmidt struck out two and gave up nine runs (seven earned) on 10 hits, including two home runs.
Drake had four hits, one each by seniors Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.), Nicole Randel (Alpine, Calif.) and Liz Buck (Overland Park, Kan.) and one from freshman Kaitlyn FInneran (Morrison, Ill.)
After Schmidt retired the Sun Devils (16-0) in order in the first inning, ASU took a 2-0 lead in the second frame, as Chelsea Gonzales hit the first pitch she saw over the wall in dead center for a two-run home run.
Arizona State added five runs in the fifth inning, capped by a three-run shot by Katee Aguirre to put ASU on top, 7-0.
The Bulldogs found themselves on the scoreboard, trailing 7-1, in the sixth inning, as Hayley Nybo (Minnetonka, Minn.) plated junior Sarah Ryan (Mount Vernon, Iowa) with a sacrifice fly to right field with the bases loaded.
Arizona State added a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame to close out the contest, 9-1.
Drake travels to the Woo Pig Fastpitch Classic next weekend, with games against Louisiana Tech and Arkansas scheduled for Friday, Feb. 28. First pitch with Louisiana Tech is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. CST and the Bulldogs will face host Arkansas at 5:30 p.m. CST.