CEDAR FALLS, Iowa. – The Drake softball team wrapped up play at the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic with another pair of games on Sunday. The Bulldogs earned their first win of the season taking down Loyola-Chicago in their first game of the day, 4-3, and couldn't avenge their loss against North Dakota on Friday night falling again to the Fighting Hawks in extra innings, 6-4.
Drake 4, Loyola 3
The Bulldogs found themselves facing an early deficit against the Ramblers with Loyola taking advantage of an error which allowed two runs to score in the top of the first. Drake responded in the bottom half of the frame, however, as
Emma Dighton got a hold off one and sent a solo shot over the wall in left field for her first home run of the season.
The Ramblers tacked on another in the second inning, but once again the Bulldogs had an answer.
Tatum Aragon came through with a two-RBI double to left knotting the game up at 3-3 through four innings of play.
Aragon provided more offense for the Bulldogs when she drove in the eventual game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Drake then kept the Ramblers off the scoreboard over the final two innings to secure the win.
Jayme Scheck was credited with the win after tossing 5.0 innings without allowing an earned run and recording four strikeouts. At the plate,
Frankie Rita also had a big day with a pair of extra base hits.
North Dakota 6, Drake 4
Behind the arms of
Molly Hoekstra and
Peyton Driscoll, the Bulldogs held the Fighting Hawks scoreless for the majority of the contest. Meanwhile on the offensive end, Drake held a 2-0 lead courtesy of a
Lydia Olejniczak RBI single and
Carey Koenig scoring on a fielder's choice after she smoked a triple to right field.
The Bulldogs eventually ran into trouble in the sixth inning, committing their second error of the game, and surrendered a pair of runs to tie the game at 2-2. That score remained as the seventh inning went scoreless and the game was pushed into extras.
In the eighth inning, Drake regained its lead and scored two runs. Dighton, who was placed at second base to start the frame, plated the first run coming home to score off an error by UND.
Heidi Wheeler then knocked in the second run with an RBI double.
The bottom of the eighth saw the Bulldogs get in a jam quickly as North Dakota led off with back-to-back base knocks, scoring one run, and a walk which loaded the bases. Another error from Drake allowed UND to tie the game at 4-4 and then Taya Hopfauf ended it with a walk-off ground-rule double.
Wheeler was the lone Bulldog to record a pair of hits against the Fighting Hawks, while Aragon tallied two RBI. Hoekstra, who got the starting nod, finished with a final line of 3.0 innings pitched, no runs, two hits, two strikeouts, and one walk.
The Bulldogs will have a little time off before they take to the diamond again at the Easton Bama Bash. Drake will head south to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Feb. 21-23, and will play five games over the three days against Southern Utah, Virginia Tech, and hosts Alabama.
