OKLAHOMA CITY – The Drake University softball team defeated Connecticut, 4-1, to open play at the Hall of Fame Classic before dropping a close 2-0 matchup against No. 24/RV Oklahoma State Friday evening.
Nicole Timmons (Davenport, Iowa) pitched a complete game for Drake (14-8) against Connecticut (8-13) where she allowed just one unearned run on one hit. Timmons (5-4), who didn't allow a hit until the seventh inning, struck out seven with four walks.
Freshman
Macy Johnson (Winterset, Iowa) was one of three Bulldogs to go 2-for-3 against the Huskies.
Sarah Maddox (Henderson, Nev.) added one run scored while
Melissa Schlotzhauer (Pilot Grove, Mo.) had one run batted in and scored once.
Maddox led off the four-run second inning for Drake with a single followed by a walk to
Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.).
Ashlie Chambers (Ankeny, Iowa) hit a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners before Schlotzhauer's single allowed Maddox to score.
Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) reached on a fielders' choice as Frank was tagged out at third. Johnson then launched her second career homerun which lifted the Bulldogs to a 4-0 lead.
The Huskies finally got a hit on scoreboard with one out in the seventh. Three batters later an error by Roemmich allowed UConn's only run of the game. Timmons then struck out the final batter for the win.
Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) dropped just her second game of the season against Oklahoma State after a solid five innings pitched. Newman (6-2) gave up two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts.
Newman struck out the first five Oklahoma State batters of the games. Drake threatened in the second inning by loading the bases with two outs as
Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) doubled to center before
Gabbie Jonas (Omaha, Neb.) drew a walk. A single by Ryan followed and loaded the bases but Oklahoma State got Roemmich to ground out and end the threat.
The Cowgirls grabbed the only two runs of the game in the fourth inning with back-to-back hits to put runners on second and third. Oklahoma State then hit its second double of the inning for the 2-0 deciding lead. Smith was the only Bulldog to get a hit in the final three innings as the team finished with five in the game.
Drake continues action in Oklahoma City Saturday with games against St. Francis and Pacific at 1:30 and 4 p.m., respectively.
