Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
W. Carolina (UNCC Tournament)
Camara Garners First Coaching Win in Dragons' Day Two Split at First Pitch Classic
2/24/2007 12:49:37 PM | Softball
Charlotte, N.C. - Head Coach Kim Camara earned her first collegiate coaching victory as the Dragons (1-3) exploded for 11 runs in the third and fourth innings to best Western Carolina 13-8 in the First Pitch Classic hosted by UNC Charlotte. Freshman Katrina Gaudier picked up her first career win from the pitching circle after allowing one earned run in five innings of work. In the second game of the day, the host UNC Charlotte came from behind to defeat Drexel 8-5 thanks to a seven-run fifth inning.
Game One
Junior Victoria Hanks turned in the best offensive game of her career, going 2-for-3 from the plate with three RBIs. Her bat was in the middle of both big innings for Drexel, coming up with a two-run single that broke open a six-run third inning and knocking in another run in the team's five-run fifth. Drexel, who came back from a four-run deficit and never trailed after pulling ahead 6-4 in the third. Lena Aiken knocked out three hits in four plate appearances including two in the third inning when the Dragons batted around on the Catamounts.
Starter Ashlee Veilleux and the Dragons got through the first two innings unscathed but hit a speed bump in the third when lead-off hitter Mendy McKenzie singled to start the inning. After a pair of wild pitches sent McKenzie to third, Stephanie Beaty played her with an RBI single. Veilleux gave way to Katrina Gaudier after walking in a batter and Gaudier got out of the inning, but not before two more runs came in on a double by Beth Hauser.
Drexel rallied back in its half of the third inning, scoring six two-out runs and batting around on the Catamounts to surge ahead. Lena Aiken got things started with a lead-off single and Lisa Williams sacrificed her to second. Amanda Hastings singled up the middle to moved Aiken to third base. Freshman Ashley Botelho, who blasted a homer for her first collegiate hit yesterday, stepped to the plate and stroked an RBI single to left field. After Molly Dacey got on with a shot down the line that was too hot for the third baseman to come up with, Christina Rodriguez followed with a single up the middle that brought Hastings in make it a 4-2 game.
Gaudier picked up her first career hit and helped her own cause from the circle, with an RBI single to the left side that pushed across the third run of the inning and bounced starter Lauren Ross from the pitching rubber. Victoria Hanks dropped a well-placed single into right field that brought home two runs to give the Dragons a 5-4 lead. Williams struck out to end the inning, but not before Aiken picked up her second single of the inning to plate Gaudier as Drexel batted around on the Catamounts to take a 6-4 lead.
Western Carolina evened the score with two runs in the top of the fourth, but Gaudier settled down and fanned Hauser with runners on second and third to end the inning with the game tied 6-6.
The Dragons answered again in the bottom of the frame when Lauren Ross, who returned to the circle after McKenzie's unsuccessful pitching foray in the third inning, walked the bases loaded and gave up a single to Molly Dacey. Ross walked Rodriguez to force in Brianne Brown before once again giving way to McKenzie. A wild pitch by McKenzie allowed Ashley Botelho to scamper home with the go-ahead run. Gaudier drove in her second run of the game when she reached on a fielder's choice that plated Dacey. Hanks broke it open with an RBI single to left field to make it an 11-6 game.
Aiken picked up her third hit of the game with a bunt single and Hastings, who led off the inning with a walk, drew another free pass as the Dragons batted around on the Catamounts for a second time in the game. Brown grounded out to end the onslaught, but not before five runs had crossed the plate for the Dragons.
Gaudier hit her stride from the circle following the rally, retiring seven of the next eight Catamounts with help from an outfield assist by Williams in centerfield. The Dragons tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning to stake Gaudier to a 13-6 lead going into the final frame.
Gaudier and pinch hitter Kristen Beaver walked to open the sixth inning and Williams, who was ranked nationally in getting hit by pitches, drew a plunking to load the bases. Hastings promptly knocked a single the opposite way into left field to bring home Gaudier. Brown followed that up with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Beaver making it a 13-6 game for the Dragons.
Western Carolina made things interesting in the seventh, scoring a run on an error and three straight singles and picking up a second when Gaudier surrendered a bases-loaded walk. But battered Catamount pitcher Lauren Ross grounded out to Carla Waldron at second to end the game and give Head Coach Kim Camara her first coaching victory.
In the second game of Drexel's Saturday twinbill at the UNC Charlotte First Pitch Classic, the Dragons squared off against the host 49ers. Riding the momentum of the team's first victory of the season, a 13-8 win over W. Carolina to open the day, Drexel (1-3) matched runs with Charlotte in the first inning on an RBI double by freshman Ashlee Botelho. But a seven-run fifth put the 49ers on top and they held on for an 8-5 victory.
The Dragons manufactured a run in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. Christina Rodriguez led off with a single and Ashlee Veilleux drew a walk. Carla Waldron sacrificed them to second and third and Jessica Bongiovanni brough home Rodriguez on a pinch-hit single to centerfield.
Lena Aiken gave starter Breanna Gomez some breathing room in the fourth inning when she doubled to right center and came around to score on a throwing error by shortstop Cee Brooks after a grounder by Amanda Hastings.
Charlotte victimized the Drexel pitching for seven runs in the fifth inning. Kristi Killough, the number three hitter, smacked a two-run shot that tied the game at 3-3 to start the big inning for Charlotte. Gomez, who had held the 49ers scoreless through three innings, was relieved by Amanda Shattuck after the long ball.
Shattuck loaded the bases with no outs before inducing a ground ball by to Waldron at second who made a strong throw home to cut down the run. She walked the next batter Alyssa Kemmerer to bring in the go-ahead run and then surrendered another run on a grounder by Lauren Schmitz to make it a 5-3 Charlotte lead. Lead-off batter Sarah Malena hit a two-RBI triple to right field, but the Dragons were able to relay the ball in time to catch Schmitz at home for the second out of the inning. Shattuck got Killough to fly out to end the inning but not before Charlotte took an 8-3 lead.
Drexel chipped away at the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Aiken and Bongiovanni opened the sixth inning with back-to-back doubles and Bongiovanni came around to score on an RBI ground out by Brianne Brown to make it an 8-5 Charlotte lead going into the seventh inning.
The Dragons shutout the 49ers with a clutch double play turned when, with a runner on third base, Shattuck got Malene to hit a sharp grounder to Waldron at second. Waldron fired it home to Botelho who tagged the runner and threw a bead to Dacey at first base for the inning-ending twin killing.
Dacey gave Drexel hope in the bottom of the seventh with her third hit of the game, a single up the middle. But Christy Murray retired the next three batters to end the threat and pick up an 8-5 win for Charlotte. Shattuck incurred the loss for Drexel after allowing four runs on five hits in three innings of work.
