OMAHA, Neb. – The Drake softball team was back on the diamond for its first midweek contests of the season Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader against former Missouri Valley Conference foe Creighton. The Bulldogs got the job done in game one taking a 5-3 win and fell short despite a late inning push in game two, 9-6.
Drake 5, Creighton 3
The Bulldogs started game one off in a big way to grab an early lead over the Bluejays. In the top of the first, Emma Dighton went yard with a two-run shot that carried over the left field wall. Dighton's homer marked her fourth of the year.
Creighton countered with some small ball in the bottom of the second to bring the game even, however. Avery Barnard drove in the first run with a single and Ashten Pierson followed a couple batters later with an RBI single of her own.
The following two frames went scoreless until Drake reclaimed its lead in the top of the fifth. The Bulldogs capitalized on a bases load opportunity with freshman Logan Kelley showing composed discipline at the plate drawing a walk to bring in a run.
In the sixth, Drake added some key insurance runs to extend its lead. In a pinch-hitting spot, Lydia Olejniczak poked a single to left, which scored Frankie Rita and moments later, Ava Curry provided a productive at-bat with an RBI groundout.
Creighton tacked on a run with another RBI single to cut the Drake lead to 5-3, but Molly Hoekstra went the distance in the circle and produced a groundout to end the threat of a comeback attempt.
Offensively, Drake tallied up seven hits in the game with Dighton's home run being the only extra-base hit. The bottom of the lineup for the Bulldogs, hitters 6-9, all came through with one hit in the contest, respectively.
Creighton 9, Drake 6
Drake was on the board early again in game two as Tatum Aragon roped a double down the left field line bringing in Curry. That would be the only lead Drake would have in the game, however.
The Bluejays jumped ahead in the second inning after a fielding error and a sacrifice fly scored a pair of runs. The Bulldogs brought the game back even at 2-2 in the third inning following a double from Kelley, but the Creighton offense stayed hot.
Creighton went on to score six runs over the middle innings with the majority of the damage happening in a four-run fourth. The Bluejays then upped their advantage to 9-2 in the sixth off an RBI base knock by Sydra Seville.
Down to their last at-bats, the Bulldogs pushed for a rally, but came up short. Drake cut the deficit with a four-run frame of its own on a sac fly by Kelley, a Creighton throwing error, and a two-RBI single by Sam Tourtillott but a groundout put an end to the game.
Kelley led the Bulldogs on the offensive side going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Dighton also had a 2-for-4 showing at the plate with a pair of base hits. Starting pitcher Peyton Driscoll was credited with the loss after 3.0 innings of work.
Drake next travels to Nashville, Tennessee for its conference opening series this weekend against the Bruins of Belmont. The Bulldogs and Bruins are slated to play three games in three days, March 14-16.
