ST. CHARLES, La. – The Drake University softball team blitzed Texas Tech, 12-0, before the Memphis Tigers edged Drake, 6-3, on Friday at the Cowgirl Classic.
Drake (7-7) started the day against Texas Tech. The Bulldogs jumped out to a early 2-0 lead in the first inning as Megan Sowa (Gurnee, Ill.) collected a RBI single that plated freshman Kelsey Wright (Olathe, Kan.) who led off the game with a double. Later in the frame, senior Laura Brewer (Waukee, Iowa) launched her first home run of the season, a solo blast, for the final run of the inning.
It was the start of a big offensive game for Drake who added three runs in the third inning, one in the fourth and six in the fifth inning to end the game early. The Bulldogs pounded out 11 hits.
In the big fifth inning, the Bulldogs batted around sending 10 hitters to plate. Some of the scoring highlights in the frame included a RBI triple from freshman Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa), a RBI double from senior Sarah Ryan (Mount Vernon, Iowa) and a two-RBI single from senior Hayley Nybo (Minnetonka, Minn.).
Alexander, Brewer, Sowa and Wright each had two hits. Brewer, Nybo, Sowa and Wright were the four hitters in the batting order as they combined to go 7-for-13 at the plate with five runs batted in and seven runs scored.
Freshman Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) pitched 4.1 innings and allowed just one hit by the Red Raiders. She worked around six walks while striking out nine to improve to 4-1 on the season.
Drake struck first against Memphis as sophomore Ashlie Chambers (Ankeny, Iowa) had a RBI single to put the Bulldogs up 1-0 in the fourth inning. However, the lead wouldn't last long as the Tigers put three runs on the scoreboard the next inning and added three more in the sixth to pull in front, 6-1.
The Bulldogs didn't go down without a fight as they scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Chambers came through again this time with a two-run double as the sophomore from Ankeny finished the game 2-for-3 with a career-high three RBI.
Kaitlyn Finneran (Morrison, Ill.), Ryan and Wright each had one hit as the Bulldogs had just five in the game.
Newman also started against Memphis. She pitched five innings and struck out a career-high 11, but allowed five runs (four earned) and three walks as her record fell to 4-2.
Drake closes its regular season tournament slate at the Colorado State Spring Tournament, March 6-8. The Bulldogs have five games scheduled for the three-day tournament in Fort Collins, Colo., which begins with games against Valparaiso and Colorado State on March 6.
