DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University softball team split its doubleheader with Missouri State on Saturday afternoon at Ron Buel Field. Drake rallied to win the opening game, 9-6, and Missouri State took the second game, 4-0.
In the first contest of the day, Missouri State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening inning with all three runs coming with two outs.
Drake (9-23, 2-6 Missouri Valley Conference) answered in the third inning with a pair of runs as senior Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.) drove in one run with a single and freshman Megan Sowa (Gurnee, Ill.) added the other with a sacrifice fly.
The Bears extended their lead to 4-2 in the fifth inning as Cunningham tripled to right field with one out and came home on Bethany Sullinger's RBI single. Sullinger's run scoring base hit came off of junior Rebekah Schmidt (Cottage Grove, Minn.), who relieved starter Jordan Gronewold (Carlisle, Iowa) in the circle after Cunnigham's triple.
The Bulldogs broke out for five runs in the fifth inning as senior Liz Buck (Overland Park, Kan.) was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Sowa followed with a double. Buck scored one batter later as junior Hayley Nybo (Minnetonka, Minn.) punched an RBI single and senior Cortney Wood (Alburnett, Iowa) followed Nybo with another RBI single to plate Sowa. Drake then capitalized on back-to-back Missouri State (21-13, 4-4 MVC) errors' for its next two runs and Pierce drew a bases loaded walk for the final run and a 7-4 lead.
Junior Laura Brewer (Waukee, Iowa) launched a two-out, two-run home run in the sixth inning to extend the advantage to 9-4. Missouri State scored twice in the final inning, but Schmidt coaxed a ground to end the threat and give Drake the 9-6 victory.
Brewer finished with her second straight three-hit game as she was 3-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI, while Wood added two hits and two runs. Schmidt pitched 2.2 innings to earn the win and improve her record to 8-10.
Jessie Van Es tossed a four hit shutout for Missouri State in the second game to pick up the win and improve to 6-3 on the season. Brewer, Buck, Ryan and Sowa each had one hit for Drake.
Sophomore Mariah McKinnon (Oxford, Iowa) started in the circle for the Bulldogs and pitched well, going seven innings allowing four runs on nine hits and struck out four.
The series finale between the two teams is set for Sunday at noon at Ron Buel Field.
