Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Lafayette
Dacey and Botelho Take Over as Drexel's Career Home Run Leaders In Split at Lafayette
3/25/2008 7:26:23 PM | Softball
Easton, Pa. - Drexel softball saw its nine-game winning streak come to an end in an 8-5 loss in game one at Lafayette on Tuesday. But the Dragons didn't wait long to start another winning trend, rebounding for a convincing 7-3 victory over the Leopards in game two. Molly Dacey's sixth-inning home run was the 11th of her career, making her Drexel's new career leader in round-trippers, but she wouldn't be alone at the top for long as sophomore Ashley Botelho hit a three-run shot in the fifth inning of the nightcap to match the career mark. Botelho, who also set the team's single-season mark with seven homers this year, went 4-for-7 on the twinbill with five RBIs. Freshman pitcher Ellen Boundy earned a complete-game victory in the contest.
Game One
Drexel came back from a 3-1 deficit to knot the game at 4-4 in the sixth inning on Dacey's record-breaking home run. But four runs in the bottom of the frame by the Leopards put the game out of reach for Drexel in an 8-5 loss.
Botelho got the Dragons' rally going in the fourth inning with a solo shot, her team-leading fifth of the year. Drexel manufactured a run in the fifth inning as Carla Waldron singled and Lisa Williams reached on an error. Christina Rodriguez moved them over with a bunt and Katrina Gaudier brought home Waldron with a sacrifice fly to center field to make it a 3-2 Lafayette lead. After Dacey's game-tying home run, the Dragons threatened to break the game open when they loaded the bases for Rodriguez. But the newest member of Drexel's 100-hit club missed an RBI opportunity with a foul fly ball caught by the Leopards' second baseman.
Lafayette's big inning started on a throwing error by reliever Breanna Gomez and after two infield singles and a bunt later, Kristen Ruckno knocked a grand slam home run to left field to put the Leopards on top for good.
Drexel attempted to rally once again in the top of the seventh when Sandi Wambold led off with a single and Amanda Hastings double to bring home pinch runner Rachel Campbell with no outs. But Botelho, Dacey and Kristen Beaver all made outs in the air to end the contest.
Gomez, who relieved starter Katrina Gaudier in the fifth inning, incurred the loss, dropping to 3-4 on the season, after allowing three runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in an inning and two-thirds of work.
Game Two
Ashley Botelho went 3-for-3 with a double and a three-run homer in Drexel's 7-3 game two victory over Lafayette. Freshman starter Ellen Boundy gave up three runs on five hits and three walks and struckout a career-high six batters to earn her third win of the season.
Drexel capitalized on a throwing error by Lafayette starter Ali Henry to plate three runs in the first inning. Christinia Rodriguez brought in two on a hit-and-run ground out to second base, making it a 2-0 game. Katrina Gaudier doubled to center and came around to score on an RBI single by Botelho, giving the Dragons a sizeable cushion early in the game.
The Dragons pushed one across in the top of the fourth after a lead-off double by Sandi Wambold. Kristen Beaver moved her to third on a sacrifice bunt. Carla Waldron pulled the ball to the right side of the diamond to bring her home on a ground out to first base, making it 4-0 in Drexel's favor.
Boundy yeilded her only runs of the contest in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Leopards drove in three runs on four hits with one out. Boundy settled down to retire the final two batters on a pop fly to shortstop and a grounder to third base. The rookie pitched her most effective outing as a starter, earning a complete-game victory in a game that was called due to darkness in the sixth inning.
Botelho's record-tying three-run shot in the fifth inning brought home Gaudier and Hastings who hit back-to-back singles to get on base and gave the Dragons their final margin.
The Dragons are back in action on Thursday in a single game at Rutgers starting at 4:30 p.m.
