MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Drake University softball team picked up a pair of non-conference victories today at the Blues City Classic in Memphis, Tenn. The Bulldogs (4-9) came through in multiple clutch moments to complete their unblemished Saturday with wins over Memphis (2-14) and UTSA (4-16).
Drake 4, Memphis 3
The Bulldogs got things going early in their first matchup of the day.
Emma Dighton reached on an error, which allowed Hailee Lehman to score, in the top of the first inning versus the hosts from Memphis.
Addie Lightner continued the Bulldogs' hot start with an RBI single in the same frame.
The Tigers fought back in the home half of the first with a double down the right field line by Aliana Zavala to plate two runs and knot the score at 2-2.
Memphis' comeback effort was looking even better in the second inning when Meagan Chism smashed a solo shot home run to take a 3-2 lead.
The score remained in favor of the hosts until the top of the fifth inning when an
Emily Valtman single forced a Tiger error that brought
Aubree Beitzinger across the plate.
The Drake defense held firm through the final frames as the Bulldogs snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 4-3 decision over Memphis.
Beitzinger, Lehman, and Lightner all recorded multiple hits for the Bulldogs as Lightner's RBI proved to the difference.
Emma Dighton earned the pitching win, her first of the season, with 5.1 innings of relief work after
Molly Hoekstra struggled to start. Dighton struck out two Tigers and allowed just three hits without surrendering a walk.
Drake 6, UTSA 5
The second game of the day started in similar fashion as Drake opened the scoring in the top of the third inning on a Hailee Lehman single that plated
Emily Valtman.
Despite drawing first blood, Drake fell behind UTSA in the nightcap after a big home half of the third. The Roadrunners evened the tally on a Camryn Robillard home run and then took the lead on a Lilly Hood single. UTSA added to their total on a sacrifice fly by Marena Estell. Hood finished their stanza with a scamper home on a Bulldog wild pitch.
Trailing 4-1, Drake began their second comeback of the day in the top of the fourth inning when Valtman delivered a single through the right side to score
Aubree Beitzinger.
Drake followed that run up with three more in the top of the fifth, two of which came on an
Emma Dighton single to center and another when Beitzinger was hit by a pitch.
UTSA halted Drake's rally with the equalizer, another wild pitch that brough Ciarra Mata home.
Both teams played through a scoreless sixth inning and looked to be destined for extras until the seventh frame. Dighton came through for the Dogs again with a solo shot blast over the left field fence to take a 6-5 lead.
The Bulldogs manuevered through another tense home half of the seventh and held on for their second one-run win of the evening.
Emma Dighton starred in the Blues City Classic nightcap with two hits, one of which was her go-ahead homer, and three runs driven in. Dighton was the only Drake player to log multiple hits versus UTSA.
Mackenzie Hupke collected the victory in the circle after four stellar innings in relief. Hupke fanned six Roadrunners and allowed just one hit and one run while improving to 2-2 on the season.
Drake will finish play at the Blues City Classic tomorrow morning with a rematch against SIUE at 9 a.m. The Bulldogs fell to SIUE in their tournament opener on Friday afternoon by a 6-4 score.
