CHICAGO – The Drake University softball team had it program-record 24-game winning streak snapped Sunday with a 3-0 loss at Loyola.
Drake (38-10, 21-1 MVC), which clinched the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season title with its doubleheader sweep at Loyola (22-25, 8-14 MVC) Saturday afternoon, was held to just two hits in its first MVC loss of the season.
Junior
Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.) had both hits for the Bulldogs, who did draw seven walks from Ramblers' pitcher Kiley Jones. However, Drake struck out nine times and stranded eight baserunners.
Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) lost her first game in the circle to a Valley opponent and it was Newman's first loss since March 9 at Oklahoma State. She allowed three runs on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts as her record fell to 17-3.
After Drake failed to score with the bases loaded in the top of the third, Loyola scored its first two runs in the bottom of the frame. The inning started with a base hit from Peyton DeChant, DeChant moved over on a sacrifice bunt, Newman then walked the next two batters, and after a strikeout, Brooke Wilson singled to center field to score two runs with two outs.
Drake nearly cut the lead in half in the next inning, but
Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.), who reached on a leadoff walk, was thrown out at the plate to end the frame trying to score after a throwing error by DeChant at third base on a ball hit by Newman.
Frank had her second hit in the fifth inning, but she was the only baserunner for the Bulldogs until the seventh inning. With two outs,
Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa) and
Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) walked back-to-back to bring Frank to the plate as the potential tying run. However, Frank was retired for the first time all game with a grounder to third as the game ended.
Following its final road trip of the regular season, Drake returns to Buel Field to host Missouri State, May 5-6. All three games against the Bears will be broadcast on ESPN+.
