STILLWATER, Okla. – The No. 17 Minnesota Gophers defeated the Drake University softball team, 6-2, on the final day of the Mizuno Classic.
Minnesota ripped off four straight hits in its first at-bat as the Gophers chased Drake starter Jordan Gronewold (Carlisle, Iowa) from the contest. The Gophers capitalized on two errors by the Bulldogs as they put three early runs on the scoreboard.
Drake trimmed its deficit to 3-2 with a run in the fourth and a run in the fifth inning as Rebekah Schmidt (Cottage Grove, Minn.) pitched well in relief of Gronewold. Freshman Megan Sowa (Gurnee, Ill.) had an RBI groundout and senior Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.) added an RBI double.
Minnesota (17-3) extended its lead in the bottom of the fifth as it capitalized on two more errors by Drake to put two more runs on the board. The Gophers posted an insurance run in the sixth inning.
Schmidt pitched six innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits. She struggled with her control with four walks, but did have four strikeouts. Gronewold took the loss to drop to 0-3 on the season.
Junior Hayley Nybo (Minnetonka, Minn.) recorded two hits, while Pierce finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base
Drake (6-16) closes the weekend with a win over league-mate Missouri State and losses to host Oklahoma State and Minnesota. Games with Oklahoma State and Minnesota scheduled for yesterday were cancelled due to poor weather.
Drake opens MVC play next weekend at Illinois State with a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, March 15 starting at noon. The teams will play a single game Sunday at noon to end the opening weekend of league action.
