FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Drake University softball team defeated SEMO, 7-5, and No. 12 Arkansas, 3-1, Saturday, Feb. 23 on the second day of the Razorback Invitational.
 
Drake (9-4), which started Saturday with a comeback over SEMO in an immediate rematch from Friday, earned its third win in the past four matchups with Razorbacks, all in Fayetteville.
 
In the win over Arkansas, Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) dominated in the circle to improve to 4-2. Newman pitched a complete game with 11 strikeouts for her fifth 10+ strikeout performance this season. She allowed one run on three hits with two walks.
 
At the plate, Newman helped herself with a two-run double in the first inning that scored Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) and Libby Ryan (Mount Vernon, Iowa). Roemmich and Ryan each hit singles and Ryan moved up into scoring position to second base on the throw in on her base hit.
 
In the second-consecutive victory over SEMO, Drake erased a 5-3 deficit. The Bulldogs scored three first-inning runs, but the Redhawks scored all five of their runs in the second inning.
 
Nicole Timmons (Davenport, Iowa) allowed all five runs on five hits in the top of the second inning. Two of those runs came on solo home runs. She settled down and allowed just two more hits before Newman came on in relief with one out in the sixth. Newman finished the game for her second save. Timmons improved to 5-2 on the year.
 
Drake pulled within 5-4 in the third inning after Ryan's RBI single. The Bulldogs then went in front for good with a pair of runs in the sixth inning, each run coming from bases loaded walks, by Newman and Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.). Roemmich tacked on one insurance run in the fifth inning with an RBI single. She led Drake's offense with three hits.  
 
Drake closes its time in Arkansas Sunday morning with a 10 a.m. game against SIUE.