Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Univ. of the Sciences
Long Balls and Clutch Hitting Lift Dragons in Sweep of USP
3/12/2008 3:48:09 PM | Softball
Philadelphia – Drexel (5-7) blasted a single-game record five home runs in its 12-1 game-one win over the University of the Sciences (1-6). Kristen Beaver led the power surge with two dingers. Ashley Botelho, Molly Dacey and Sandi Wambold added one round-tripper apiece. Dacey's blast moved her into a tie for first place on the team's all-time homers list. Katrina Gaudier earned the pitching victory to even her record at 3-3 on the season.
Game one
Molly Dacey's first-inning two-run homer staked Drexel to an early lead. Dacey's blast, which cleared the fence in right center field was her 10th career homer, and tied Drexel's all-time record, held by Brianne Brown. The Dragons would put one more on the board with some aggressive base running by Lisa Williams on a throwing error by the third baseman.
Kristen Beaver broke open the game with a three-run shot in the third inning to make it an 8-1 Drexel lead. Botelho set the tone for the big inning when she stung her second homer of the year to straight away centerfield. Hastings and Harrington reached on singles bookending Wambold reaching on an error to load the bases. One run came in on a wild pitch before Beaver launched her homer.
The Dragons plated four more in the fourth on a three-run shot by Wambold and Beaver's second smash of the game. With the prevailing wind blowing from left field, Wambold's shot sailed out to right centerfield. Beaver's liner followed the same path to put Drexel on top 12-1.
Amanda Shattuck closed out the win for Gaudier, pitching two scoreless innings without allowing a hit and fanning two batters. Gaudier allowed just one hit in her three innings from the circle with two walks and a strikeout.
Beaver's homers tied a single-game record for Drexel. Brianne Brown accomplished the feat last season against Delaware and Erin McKee did it against UNC Wilmington in 2004.
Game Two
Amanda Hastings came through in the bottom of the eighth inning with a two-out single that plated Molly Dacey from second with the game-winning run in a 4-3 Drexel win in the nightcap. Hastings went 2-for-3 with two sacrifice hits. Katrina Gaudier matched Drexel's single-game record with four singles in the contest. Christinia Rodriguez was 3-for-5 with three steals from the lead-off spot.
Dacey put Drexel on top with the third of three straight singles to bring Rodriguez in, giving the Dragons a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Dragons produced another run in the fifth when Rodriguez singled and stole second and Gaudier brought her in with a single.
The Devils took advantage of a lead-off walk by Gomez to score two runs in the fifth inning to even the game. Ashley Botelho put the Dragons ahead with her second home run of the day, making it a 3-2 game in the bottom of the fifth. But Carolynn Snavely answered with a dinger of her own to square the game in the top of the sixth.
Gomez pitched into and out of trouble throughout the entire contest. She earned her second win of the season by stranding 15 Devils on the bases. She scattered nine hits and walked eight batters but managed to get timely ground balls and she also struck out a season-high seven batters to get the win.
The Dragons travel to Dover, Del. to participate in the Capital City Classic this weekend hosted by Delaware State.
