Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
UNC Charlotte (UNCC Tournament)
Softball Falls to Host UNC Charlotte, 8-5, at First Pitch Classic
2/24/2007 3:20:13 PM | Softball
Charlotte, N.C. - 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 Jessica 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.
