LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Drake University softball started the Rock Chalk Challenge Friday with a 6-1 win over Kansas City before it lost to host Kansas, 12-2.
Against Kansas City,
Kristen Arias put Drake (8-13) on the scoreboard first with her first career home run as a Bulldog. Arias, a transfer from San Jose State, blasted a three-run home run in the first inning that scored
Macy Johnson and
Emily Valtman. Johnson reached on a one-out bunt single and then stole second before Valtman walked.
Johnson was responsible for Drake's next three runs. She scored on a wild pitch in the third inning and then doubled in the seventh to score
Mandi Roemmich, who led off the frame with a single to left field. Two batters later, Johnson raced home after Kansas City's right fielder dropped a ball hit by Drake freshman
Delaney Taylor. Taylor was credited with a sacrifice fly on the play.
Johnson had a game-high three hits while
Abby Buie and Roemmich had two hits each.
Nicole Timmons (5-1) was great in the circle for the Bulldogs. The Roos' lone run came on a seventh-inning solo home run. Timmons scattered four hits and three walks and struck out five in her fourth complete game of the season.
Against Kansas, Roemmich scored the game's first run in the opening inning. She was hit by a pitch and later moved to third base after Johnson reached on an error. Johnson then stole second and Roemmich was able to score after an error by the Jayhawks' catcher.
Kansas took the lead with two runs in the second and added four more runs in the third. In the fourth inning, Buie drove in Arias with a single to left field to put score at 6-2. The Jayhawks though ended the night early with a six-run performance in the bottom of the frame.
Freshman
Mackenzie Hupke (2-6) allowed 12 runs (six earned) on nine hits and six walks in 3.2 innings. Hupke struck out three Jayhawks.
Buie and Taylor had one hit each for Drake, which finished with just two as a team.
Drake is back in action Saturday with a rematch against Kansas scheduled for 4 p.m. before it plays former MVC rival Wichita State at 6:30 p.m.
