COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Drake University softball team closed out the Mizzou Tournament splitting a pair of games for the second-consecutive day. Drake (12-7) took a 2-1 victory over Creighton (8-6) before dropping a 10-3 game to Missouri (16-7).
Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) moved to 6-1 on the season with the win against Creighton. She allowed just one run on three hits with 10 strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
In a game that closely mirrored Drake's narrow 2-1 loss Saturday to Creighton, both teams remained scoreless through the first three innings.
Macy Johnson (Winterset, Iowa) drew a one-out walk in the fourth inning before she stole second.
Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa) reached base on an error by Creighton third baseman Tash Coffiel which also advanced Johnson to third.
Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.) followed with a sacrifice fly which scored Johnson. Alexander then moved into scoring position with a stolen base to second.
Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) followed with a single to score Alexander and grab Drake a 2-0 lead.
Creighton threatened in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff double from Jayci McGill. Sam Crowley followed with a single before a sacrifice bunt allowed pinch-runner Kristin Fry to score from second. Newman worked out of the inning quickly retiring the next three batters in order.
Gabbie Jonas (Omaha, Neb.) went 2-for-3 as the only player for either team to record multiple hits in the game.
In the final game of the tournament Missouri came out quick against Drake with four straight hits including two back-to-back doubles to take an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Missouri's offense continued to add runs on the board with a four-run second inning before adding a two-run home run in the fifth. The Tiger's final run came in the sixth as Gabby Garrison stole home.
Drake's offense got on the board as
Ashlie Chambers (Ankeny, Iowa) led off the third inning with a single before
Libby Ryan (Mount Vernon, Iowa) hit a clean bunt single that allowed pinch runner
Abby Buie (Gardner, Kan.) to advance to second. Roemmich loaded the bases with a single before Johnson drew a walk to score Buie. A sacrifice fly by Alexander then brought Ryan in.
Drake put a third run on the scoreboard in the sixth as
Kelsey Wright (Olathe, Kan.) led off the inning with a double to center field. A flyout from Roemmich allowed Wright to advance to third before a single from Johnson scored Wright.
The Bulldogs put up eight hits on Missouri's pitching staff including a 3-for-4 performance from Roemmich but was unable to capitalize on some additional scoring chances, leaving nine runners left on base.
Nicole Timmons (Davenport, Iowa) struggled in just one inning of work. Timmons (4-4) allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits with one strikeout and one walk. Smith pitched five innings of relief where she allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
Drake will play six games in four days next week, Mar. 8-11, as it closes out its tournament schedule. The Bulldogs will first travel to face Tulsa for a Thursday night matchup before action begins at the Hall of Fame Classic in Oklahoma City, Okla. At the Hall of Fame Classic, Drake will play Connecticut, No. 24/RV Oklahoma State, St. Francis, Pacific and Purdue.
