CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Drake softball (4-1) won another pair of matchups on Sunday to close play at the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic. The Bulldogs began the day with a 7-2 defeat of Northern Illinois before wrapping up the weekend with a 7-4 win over Omaha.
Drake 7, Northern Illinois 2
The Bulldogs scored early and often in Sunday's matinee meeting with NIU. An
Emma Dighton fielder's choice brought
Carey Koenig home to kick off a four-run first inning.
Destiny Lewis later singles in the period to drive Dighton in.
Abby Martin added to the productive inning with an RBI single of her own and
Addie Lightner provided the final blow, bringing Lewis back around.
The Bulldogs and Huskies traded scores in the third and fourth innings as Lewis and
Skylar Rigby drove in a pair of runs. Lewis later used every inch of her bat with a solo shot home run in the seventh inning, her second bomb of the year, to reach the final score of 7-2.
Lewis, Martin, Dighton, and
Allie Bishoff each recorded two hits while Lewis led Drake with three RBI.
Dighton also earned the win while pitching all seven innings and striking out one NIU batter. Dighton is now 1-1 on the year.
Drake 7, Omaha 4
The Bulldogs and Mavericks faced off for the second time this weekend. Drake avenged an 8-0 loss in the season debut on Friday evening.
Emily Valtman drew first blood for Drake in the home half of the second inning. Her line out to right was deep enough for Lightner to scamper home.
The fifth inning was busy for both teams as Omaha jumped out in front after a two-run home run. Drake answered in a big way, plating four more runs to regain the advantage. Bishoff brough
Haylee Lehman home on another sacrifice before a pair of RBI hits from Lewis and Lightner. Martin eventually came home for the final score of the inning.
Omaha kept within striking distance in the sixth, scoring two of their own to make it 5-4 in favor of the Dogs.
Bishoff and Lewis delivered two more doubles in the bottom of the sixth to reach the final tally of 7-4.
Veteran leader
Addie Lightner led Drake in the weekend finale with a 3-for-4 outing. Bishoff and Lewis each went 2-for-4.
Molly Hoekstra tossed 5.2 innings with three K's for her first win of the year.
Jayme Scheck came on in relief to pick up her first save of the season.
Drake will be off next weekend before traveling to the American Southwest for a visit to Tucson, Ariz. The Bulldogs will battle Arizona, Central Michigan, Marshall, and Indiana from Feb. 22-24.
