VALPARAISO, Ind. –
Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) threw her second career perfect game and Newman and
Nicole Timmons (Davenport, Iowa) pitched a combined no-hitter for the Drake University softball team in a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader sweep of Valparaiso Saturday at the Valpo Softball Complex.
In the first game, Drake (23-13, 9-1 MVC) run-ruled Valparaiso (12-16, 2-8 MVC) 10-0 in five innings and in the second game edged the home team 1-0.
Newman, who threw her first career perfect game one week ago in the Bulldogs' home opener against Indiana State, struck out the first seven Crusaders in the first game. Valpo didn't put a ball into play until a two-out groundout to
Sarah Maddox (Henderson, Nev.) at first base in the fourth inning. Newman, who surpassed 1,000 career strikeouts in the blowout victory, allowed just three balls in play and finished with 12 strikeouts. Newman, who came into Saturday leading the nation in strikeouts, has struck out 10 or more batters in six consecutive starts.
In the opening win, Drake had eight hits, drove in all 10 runs and drew 10 walks while sending 23 batters to the plate in the five innings. The top of the order:
Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa),
Macy Johnson (Winterset, Iowa),
Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.) and
Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.) went a combined 5-for-8 with five runs, nine walks and drove in nine runs. Newman drove in the Bulldogs' other run.
Melissa Schlotzhauer (Pilot Grove, Mo.) added two hits and
Libby Ryan (Mount Vernon, Iowa) one.
It was a pitcher duel in the second game as Drake put runners on base in every inning, including runners in scoring position multiple times, but couldn't push a run across the plate until its final at-bat. In the seventh, Newman drew a leadoff walk and Schlotzhauer pinch ran for her. Maddox then doubled down the right field line to put Schlotzhauer at third base. After
Gabbie Jonas (Omaha, Neb.) struck out,
Abby Buie (Gardner, Kan.) hit a ball into center field that was deep enough to score Schlotzhauer for what turned out to be the winning run coming on Buie's sacrifice fly.
Libby Ryan (Mount Vernon, Iowa) grounded out to end the threat.
Leading 1-0, Newman, who had entered with two outs in the sixth in relief of Timmons after she issued two walks, slammed the door on Valpo by striking out two of three final batters and earned her second-straight win of the day. Newman improved to 14-6 with the pair of wins. She finished with three strikeouts in 1.1 innings of relief. Timmons pitched 5.2 innings and hit one batter, walked two and struck out five. Frank, Maddox and Roemmich each had one in the game.
Drake and Valparaiso close the series Sunday with a single game that starts at 11 a.m.
