TUCSON, Ariz. – Drake University softball began its trip to the desert on Thursday with a doubleheader against 15th ranked Arizona. The Bulldogs nearly held on for a major upset in the opener before the Wildcats controlled the night cap in Tucson.
Arizona 7, Drake 6
Kiley Kindelspire started the day with a bang for the Bulldogs, delivering a solo shot home run to deep right field in the top of the first frame. Arizona answered in the bottom half of the inning when Regan Shockey scored from second on a Sereniti Trice bunt and Bulldog error.
Drake added another two runs in the second stanza when
Natalee Watts homered to center, scoring herself and
Ava Curry.
Arizona was able to get one back in the third on a sacrifice fly by Grace Jenkins, but the Bulldogs then took control. Drake doubled its run total between the fourth and fifth innings on a
Pearson Hall sacrifice,
Tatum Aragon bunt single, and
Malea Yoxsimer double. Drake had the No. 15 Wildcats on the ropes, 6-3, with just six outs remaining.
The Wildcats needed some heroics down the stretch, and they got just that. Sydney Stewart hit a solo blast in the home half of the sixth before another homer off the bat of Emma Kavanaugh drew the hosts within a run.
Drake went down scoreless in the top of the seventh, giving Arizona another shot. Reagan Shockey boarded safely before Stewart stepped back up an delivered the final blow, a 2-run walk-off bomb to deep center field. Fifteenth-ranked Arizona escaped in the first tilt, 7-6.
Kindelspire led Drake with three hits in four at bats out of the lead-off spot. She also scored two runs.
Natalee Watts drove two baserunners in to lead the Dogs in production.
Drake threw five pitchers in the first game versus Arizona with
Brooklynn Cardenas' 4.1 innings of relief providing the bulk of circle work.
Peyton Driscoll eventually took the loss in the seventh after giving up the winning blast.
Arizona 7, Drake 1
Arizona replicated its offensive output in the night cap, and this time kept the Bulldog bats at bay in a 7-1 result.
The Wildcats plated two in the first inning on a Trice triple and Stewart sac fly. The hosts added another pair of runs in the third on a Jenkins long ball before two more scampered home in the fourth.
Trailing 7-0 in the fifth frame, Kindelspire did her best to start a Bulldog rally, singling safely which allowed
Frankie Rita to score on an Arizona miscue.
However, Rita's run was too little, too late as the Wildcats stifled the Bulldogs down the stretch on their way to the victory.
Lily Gonzalez recorded two hits in Thursday's second fixture to lead the team at the dish. Driscoll took her second loss of the day after starting and going 3.2 innings while allowing all seven Arizona runs.
The two defeats snapped a 4-game winning streak for the Bulldogs. Drake is set to resume Bear Down Fiesta action tomorrow morning in Tucson. Friday will see the Bulldogs challenge Utah Valley at 10 a.m. CT.
