FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Freshman Gabbie Jonas (Omaha, Neb.) of the Drake University softball team ripped a walk-off, RBI double in the eighth inning to beat the UMKC Kangaroos, 6-5, on Saturday at the 2016 Razorback Invitational.
 
In its first game, Drake (5-2) rallied from a 5-0 deficit to UMKC, to give the Bulldogs a split on the opening day of the two-day tournament. In the day's final game, Drake lost to tournament host, Arkansas, 13-4, in five innings.
 
Drake was down 5-0 going into the fifth inning against UMKC. With two outs and runners on first and second, the Bulldogs scored their first run on a run-scoring single by sophomore Kelsey Wright (Olathe, Kan.) and freshman Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.) followed with a three-run home run.
 
Frank then tied the game at 5-5 in the seventh inning with a RBI single by Wright that scored sophomore Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa). The Bulldogs completed the comeback in the eighth inning. The tie breaker rule was used so freshman Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.) started the frame on second base. Drake's first two hitters failed to reach base before Jonas came up and ended the game a double to right center to plate Pena.
 
Wright led the offense with three hits as Alexander and Frank each had two hits.
 
Sophomore pitcher Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) tossed seven innings and allowed two earned runs (five runs) on seven hits while striking out eight. Newman improved to 4-0 with the win.
 
In the loss to Arkansas, senior pitcher Mariah McKinnon (Oxford, Iowa) allowed six runs on eight hits in two innings. McKinnon's record dropped to 1-2 with the loss. Sophomore Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) pitched two innings in relief and allowed seven runs on six hits while striking out three.
 
Wright had three hits off the Razorbacks and scored twice with one RBI.
 
On Sunday, Drake plays UMKC at 10 a.m. and Arkansas at 12:30 p.m., to close the tournament.