PHOENIX – The Drake University softball team defeated Grand Canyon, 11-6, Friday night on the first day of the GCU Purple Classic. Drake (6-6) lost its first game Friday to CSUN, 7-4, in eight innings.
The Bulldogs tallied a season-high 15 hits against the Lopes (2-10) as every starter had at least one hit.
Macy Johnson (Winterset, Iowa) had a team-high three hits and scored two runs and drove in one run.
Sarah Maddox (Henderson, Nev.),
Libby Ryan (Mount Vernon, Iowa) and
Emily Valtman (Newton, Iowa) each recorded two hits while Valtman drove in four runs, Maddox had three RBI and Ryan two RBI.
Freshman pitcher
Allie Timmons (Davenport, Iowa) earned her first career win in the circle. Timmons pitched 4.2 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits with two walks and one strikeout. Freshman pitcher
Mackenzie Hupke (Independence, Iowa) tossed 2.1 innings of relief and allowed just one run on four hits with two walks.
Against CSUN, Drake scored first as
Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) came home on a fielder's choice in the first. However, the Matadors scored the next three runs to lead 4-1 going to the bottom of the third. Ryan then drove in a pair with a single up the middle, the Bulldogs' fourth-straight single to start the frame, that pulled the score to 4-3. Drake tied it in the fourth inning with Roemmich's single through the right side.
Each team had chances to score the go-ahead run the next three innings but the game went to extras. In the eighth with the international run rule in effect, CSUN capitalized with two outs against Timmons, who came in relief of Hupke in the fifth, as Alexander hit a single down the left field line. Stevens then added two insurance runs with a two-run home run.
Roemmich reached base in the bottom of the eighth after getting hit by a pitch with two outs. However, the game ended when Johnson grounded out.
Due to impending weather Saturday in the Phoenix area, the schedule has been adjusted. Drake will now just play a rematch with Grand Canyon at 5:30 p.m. CST. The Bulldogs will now play Utah State at 10 a.m. and CSUN at noon on Sunday.
