COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Drake University softball team opened play at the Mizzou Tournament Friday night against host, Missouri, as the Tigers edged the Bulldogs, 4-3.
 
Drake (10-5) was led at the plate by Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa) and Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.), who each had three hits. Macy Johnson (Winterset, Iowa) added two hits.
 
Bulldogs starting pitcher Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) took her first loss of the season. Newman (5-1) pitched three innings and allowed three earned runs (four runs) on eight hits with walk and five strikeouts. Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) was outstanding in relief of Newman. Smith pitched three innings and allowed just one hit with three strikeouts and one walk.
 
Missouri (12-7) scored its first run in the opening frame. The Tigers hit back-to-back singles off of Newman who then got a flyout, but Pierce then hit a single and Nash scored after an error by second baseman Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.) allowed Nash to score from second base.
 
Drake tied the game in the third inning as Alexander doubled to center field and Gabbie Jonas (Omaha, Neb.), who led off the inning with a single, came around to score. Pena followed with an infield single to put runners on the corners, but Kelsey Wright's (Olathe, Kan.) deep ball was caught by the Missouri left fielder with a running catch on the warning track.
 
Missouri added three runs in the bottom of the third with three hits off of Newman. The Bulldogs cut the lead in half at 4-2 in the fourth inning as Johnson dropped in single into left field with two outs that scored Sarah Maddox (Henderson, Nev.).
 
Drake threatened in the fifth inning with leadoff singles by Pena and Alexander, but Alexander was thrown out at third base after trying to advance on Pena's infield single to the pitcher as the first baseman fired it to the third baseman who tagged out Alexander. Smith and Wright followed with two-straight flyouts.
 
The Bulldogs once again threatened in their next at bat in the sixth as Frank walked and Johnson reached on an infield single. However, Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) struck out to end the scoring threat.
 
Drake mounted one final rally attempt in the seventh inning. Pena reached on her third hit with one out and one batter later, Smith ripped a single to right field to put runners on first and second. One batter later, Maddox lined a hard single that went off the glove of the Tigers shortstop as pinch runner Libby Ryan (Mount Vernon, Iowa) sprinted home from second. Frank struck out looking to end the game as the Tigers held on for the win.
 
Following Friday's game, the Bulldogs play two games on Saturday with a 9 a.m. matchup against Southeastern Louisiana followed by a 5:30 p.m. game against Creighton.