DES MOINES, Iowa – The Creighton University softball team edged Drake, 4-0, Tuesday night at Ron Buel Field.
Creighton (23-12) starter Sydnee Eck pitched a shutout, limiting Drake (23-13) to just five hits, all singles, while striking out 10 Bulldogs. Drake starter
Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) took the tough loss after allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out eight. Smith's record moved to 2-2 with the loss.
Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa),
Ashlie Chambers (Ankeny, Iowa),
Kaitlynn Finneran (Morrison, Ill.), Smith and
Kelsey Wright (Olathe, Kan.) each recorded one hit for Drake.
Creighton scored its first two runs with the assistance of a pair of errors by the Bulldogs. One run came in the first, the next came in the second inning and the third run came in third inning courtesy of a solo home run by Allie Reinhart. The fourth and final run came in the seventh inning from Reinhart again on a RBI-single.
Wright had Drake's first hit of the game in the fourth inning as she sent a bouncer up the middle to lead off the frame. In the next inning, Smith led off with a base hit and two batters later Alexander dropped a bunt for a base hit to put runners on first and second with two outs, but freshman
Gabbie Jonas (Omaha, Neb.) popped out to in foul territory to end the scoring threat for the Bulldogs.
Drake strung together back-to-back singles by Chambers and Finneran with two outs in the seventh inning, but the rally attempt fell short as Alexander grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
The Bulldogs travel to Iowa on April 13 for a 5:30 p.m. game before returning home to host Missouri State for a three-game MVC series on April 16-17 at Ron Buel Field.
