CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Drake University softball team split a pair of games on the final day of the 2018 UNI Classic Sunday afternoon. Drake (4-1) opened the day with a 1-0 victory over Southeast Missouri State (2-3) before narrowly falling 2-1 to UMKC (1-3).
In the 1-0 win over SEMO, redshirt junior
Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) picked up her second win of the season in the circle. Newman (2-0) gave up only two hits and struck out 10 of the 15 batters she faced and allowed zero walks in four innings. Senior
Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) pitched three innings of relief to earn the save, allowing only two hits and striking out three.
In the fourth inning against the Redhawks, senior
Kelsey Wright (Olathe, Kan.) singled to first base setting up a double from Smith to bat in the Bulldogs' lone run of the game.
Smith (1-1) also entered in relief against UMKC giving up two runs on six hits and striking out two in three innings. Freshman
Nicole Timmons (Davenport, Iowa) pitched the opening four innings striking out eight, allowing two hits and three walks.
The Bulldogs struck first against UMKC. With two runners on, senior
Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa) singled to left field allowing sophomore
Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) to score.
UMKC took the lead in the top of the sixth. The Roos hit three-straight singles to load the bases. Two more singles followed to score both of UMKC's runs. Drake had one final rally chance in the final frame. Sophomore
Sarah Maddox (Henderson, Nev.) walked to lead off the inning before a bunt single by junior
Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.) put Maddox in scoring position. However, a ground out by freshman
Libby Ryan (Mount Vernon, Iowa) and a game-ending lineout, double play by Wright thwarted the Bulldogs' comeback attempt.
Drake will travel next weekend, Feb. 16-18, to Starkville, Miss. for the February Freezer, hosted by Mississippi State. The Drake Bulldogs open play Friday with games against Murray State and Mississippi State at 12:30 and 5:30 p.m., respectively.
