KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Drake softball wrapped up their weekend at the Kansas City Roos Invitational on Sunday. The Bulldogs started the day with a 2-1 win over tournament host Kansas City before ending the afternoon with a loss to St. Thomas by the same tally.
Drake 2, Kansas City 1
Kansas City snatched the first bit of momentum on Sunday, but not until the fourth inning. Neither team could scrape a run across in the first three frames, but Elleana Navarro eventually singled to plate Gianna Lickel for the game's first run.
It took two more innings for Drake to muster up their offensive output, and the Dogs did just enough.
Carey Koenig and
Emma Dighton both delivered clutch solo shot home runs in the top of the sixth inning to flip the score back in Drake's favor. Pitcher
Paige Bedsworth came back on to wrap up her complete game effort and shut the Roos down in order to seal Drake's 2-1 win.
Bedsworth improved to 2-1 on the year after throwing all seven innings and striking out four Kansas City hitters. She allowed just two hits and one unearned run in a gem of a start.
Offensively, the homers from Koenig and Dighton highlighted Drake's first game of the day.
Natalee Watts recorded the third hit for the Bulldogs while
Frankie Rita reached on a walk.
St. Thomas 2, Drake 1
Offense was at a premium again in the weekend finale versus St. Thomas. Drake allowed their opponent to score first again, this time in the opening stanza, as Kaitlyn Raymond singled down the left field line to bring Lake Lienhard in and take the early lead.
The Tommies added to their slight advantage two innings later when Abbi Stierlen reached on an error that allowed Cassidy Carby to come home safely. St. Thomas led 2-0 after three, but the Bulldogs had a push in them
Ava Curry eventually singled in the home half of the sixth, bringing
Frankie Rita in and cutting the Tommies' 2-0 lead in half. That was all the offense Drake could produce, though, as St. Thomas went on to win by a 2-1 score.
Drake will remain on the road when they visit Creighton in Omaha for their next contests. The Bulldogs and Bluejays will battle on Tuesday, Mar. 11 in a mid-week double-header.
