MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Drake softball team (6-11) poured in 14 runs on 14 hits to win the morning contest over St. Thomas before falling to North Dakota State in a Gopher Indoor Classic day two split at U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday (March 11).
Drake 14, St. Thomas 5 (Five Innings)
The Bulldogs trailed 3-0 after one inning of play but got two runs back in the top of the second as
Emily Valtman dragged an RBI triple down the right field line and later scored on a sacrifice fly to right by
Carey Koenig.
After Koenig singled home
Aubree Beitzinger in the top of the third,
Haylee Lehman put the Bulldogs on top, 5-3 by placing a two-run triple into the right centerfield gap. Brooke Ellestad's second home run of the day narrowed the deficit the 5-4 after three innings.
Valtman responded with a three-run blast well over the right field fence as the Bulldogs began to gain separation in the top of the fourth.
Drake put the game out of reach with a six spot in the top of the fifth inning highlighted by a
Sami Miller RBI single to left center and a two-run infield knock from
Kristen Arias.
Paige Bedsworth set down the Tommies in order to finish off a 14-5 victory in five innings.
Emma Dighton (2-3) picked up the win allowing four earned runs on five hits in 4.0 innings of work with two strikeouts.
Miller was a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish with a double and an RBI. Valtman finished 2-for-3 including a triple and her second home run of the season with 5 RBI. Carey Koening was and efficient 2-for-2 at the plate with three RBI.
North Dakota State 7, Drake 2
Jayme Scheck started in the circle for Drake and the Bison made her work for everything, but Scheck limited the damage to two runs.
Beitzinger tied up the game quickly with a two-run single that stayed fair down the left field line to score Dighton and
MaKayla Rice.
North Dakota State immediately responded in the top of the second as Anjolee Aguilar pulled a two-run homer over the wall in left field off of Bedsworth for a 4-2 lead.
Bedsworth was cruising until Skylar Padgett punched a single through to add on a run with NDSU ahead, 5-2 through six innings.
Trailing 7-2 in the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs searched for some two-out magic as Dighton and Lightner both singled, but they were left stranded on the bases.
Lightner finished 2-for-3 at the plate and Valtman worked a pair of walks against NDSU.
Drake softball will conclude the Gopher Indoor Classic starting at 2 p.m. against North Dakota State before the finale at 4:30 p.m. versus host Minnesota.
