AUBURN, Ala. – The Drake University softball team routed Furman, 11-3, Friday afternoon to earn a split on the first day of the Plainsman Invitational. Texas Tech edged Drake (5-2), 1-0, in the team's first game of the three-day tournament.
Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.), who took a tough loss in the circle to the Red Raiders, fueled the Bulldogs' offense in the victory over the Paladins. Newman went 2-for-2 with two home runs, including her first career grand slam, and a career-high seven runs batted in.
Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI while
Macy Johnson (Winterset, Iowa) went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI. Roemmich's final RBI ended the game early as her single scored
Alexi Lara (Bettendorf, Iowa).
Libby Ryan (Mount Vernon, Iowa) had one hit, one stolen base and two runs scored.
Nicole Timmons (Davenport, Iowa) pitched four innings and struck out five and improved to 3-1 with the win. Freshman
Hannah Pals (Des Moines, Iowa) pitched one inning in relief and allowed three runs on three hits with one walk.
In the first game of the day, Texas Tech came out on top in a pitcher's duel between Newman and Erin Edmoundson. Newman struck out 13 Red Raiders and allowed two hits and one walk in 6.1 innings in her first loss of the year as she moved to 2-1. Edmoundson no-hit the Bulldogs and struck out 10 with four walks as the Red Raiders improved to 6-0.
Drake nearly broke through in the sixth inning when
Abby Buie (Gardner, Kan.) led off with a walk and then advanced to second on Ryan's sacrifice bunt. Roemmich followed a walk but Johnson flew out.
Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.) hit a ball to the Red Raiders' shortstop who bobbled it but threw out Buie, who was trying to score after reaching third, for the final out.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Jessica Hartwell led off the frame with a single up the middle. Hartwell then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and one batter later scored off error at shortstop by Roemmich on a ball hit by Trenity Edwards to give Texas Tech the walkoff win.
Drake returns to the field Saturday for games against UAB and Auburn at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
