DES MOINES, Iowa – The Bulldogs faced a tough challenge welcoming in the Murray State Racers for a Friday doubleheader at Ron Buel Field. Drake lost both games to the third-place team in the Missouri Valley Conference standings and the pitching staff experienced firsthand how strong a lineup the Racers have.
Murray State 6, Drake 5
The Racers jumped on Drake starter Jayme Scheck early in the first inning, scoring two runs off a Kenley Minor single. She would come around to score after an error from
Emily Veschak, to make it three to nothing before the Bulldogs stepped up to bat.
Drake would load the bases in the bottom of the firs but only came away with one run off of an RBI fielder's choice from
Tatum Aragon.
Murray State would answer with two more runs in the top of the second, thanks to a two RBI single from Adison Hicks to make it 5-1 and that would be the end of the day for Scheck, who pitched two full innings, gave up five runs, four of them earned, while striking out one batter and not walking anyone.
The Bulldogs would begin their comeback attempt in the third inning, scoring three runs. The first came on an error from Racer shortstop Parker Holcombe, allowing
Ava Husak to score.
Tatum Aragon and
Natalee Watts each scored off fielder's choices to make the score 5-4.
Murray State added an insurance run in the fifth off a double steal with Bailey Broemmer stealing home to make it 6-4. That would prove to be the deciding factor, with Drake only managing to score one run in the final two innings.
Karlye Graber picked up the win for Murray State, her eighth of the year, pitching 3.1 innings, only allowing one run, walking four batters and striking out two. Bre Haislip, who started the game in the circle, earned up the save after re-entering, pitching two innings and only allowing one run.
Murray State 17, Drake 6
Game two started with a bang as Ava Husak belted a three-run home run in the bottom of the first, giving Drake the early lead.
The Racers came back in the second, scoring a pair of runs to make it 3-2, but the Bulldogs answered with two runs of their own in the second. RBI from Husak and
Pearson Hall pushed the lead back up to three.
Bailey Broemmer plated two in the third on a two-RBI single to make it a 5-4 ballgame. That's when the floodgates opened for Murray State.
The Racers scored eight in the fourth inning. RBI from Holcombe, Minor, Allie Waldron, Broemmer, and Ava Ozment changed a one-run deficit into a seven-run lead after four innings of play.
After that onslaught, the final numbers for Bulldog starter Cassidy Gall read 4.2 innings pitched, 13 hits allowed, 10 runs, six earned, two walks and three strikeouts.
The Racers continued to pile on in the fifth inning. A three-run home run from Waldron and a two-RBI single from Adison Hicks concluded the scoring for Murray State. The final run for Drake came on a
Leanna Watts single down the line.
The Bulldogs and Racers will conclude their series, and the regular season schedule, at 1 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.
