AUSTIN, Texas -- The Drake University softball team had its highest run output since the 2004 season in a 19-1 victory over Nicholls State at the Bevo Classic on Friday (March 11). The Bulldogs were originally scheduled to play Texas at 4 p.m. later in the day, but that game was canceled due to wind chills reaching at or below freezing.
Addie Lightner laced a double down the left field line to lead off the top of the second inning and scored to get Drake on the board first when
Emma Richards placed a double to right center. With two runners on,
Delaney Taylor singled through the right side of the infield to bring around
Heidi Wheeler.
Paige Bedsworth reached on a fielder's choice as Haley Lehman scored while the next batter,
Skylar Rigby grounded out to bring Taylor home from third for a 4-0 advantage. A fielding error by the Nicholls shortstop allowed Bedsworth and
Emily Valtman to score. Drake plated six runs on three hits with the aid of two errors in the second inning.
The Colonels answered with a run in the top of the third inning.
Leading 6-1, Taylor drove in
Carey Koenig on an infield single and Valtman followed that up by chopping a 2-run single up the middle. Bedsworth helped her cause again with another RBI to single to bring Taylor across home plate standing up.
MaKayla Rice legged out a base hit as Bedsworth scored and she promptly stole second as a throwing error allowed
Skylar Rigby to touch home plate for a 12-1 lead. Koenig joined the RBI parade with a ground out to shortstop. Taylor picked up her third RBI of the game with another single through the right side of the infield.
Nicholls' fifth error of the contest helped Wheeler cruise in to score. Bedsworth's third RBI of the game on a single into right field plated
Haylee Lehman for another unearned run. An RBI walk drawn by Rigby and RBI single back to the circle by Rice capped off the 12-run third inning.
Up 18-1 in the top of the fifth, Valtman lifted her second home run of the season over the wall in right field as the ball barely stayed fair.
The game ended after five innings with Bedsworth (1-0) pitching all five only allowing two hits with five strikeouts in the circle.
Taylor and Bedsworth both went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Rice finished 3-for-5 with two RBI while Valtman was 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI to her credit. Valtman, Bedsworth, Richards and Lightner all doubled. Taylor and Rice both stole bases.
The Bulldogs will play Nicholls (10 a.m.) and Minnesota (12:30 p.m.) tomorrow at the Bevo Classic.
