Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
James Madison
Dragons Drop a Heartbreaker to James Madison in Series Finale
4/13/2008 1:37:39 PM | Softball
Philadelphia – For the third time in as many games this weekend, the contest came down to runs scored in the final inning. Drexel (21-13, 7-5) came from behind to take a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning. But a two-run homer off the bat of Brittany Dyson in the top of the seventh gave the Dukes (21-20, 5-6) a 6-5 win in the rubber match of the three-game series. Ashley Botelho went 2-for-4 with three RBIs to set a new single-season Drexel record for runs driven in, she now has 32 on the season.
Katrina Gaudier and Amanda Hastings both had two-hit games for the Dragons. Gaudier started the contest and was in line for the win after holding the Dukes to three runs on eight hits over six innings. Freshman Ellen Boundy, the team's leader in saves this season, relieved her in the seventh but failed to pin down the win, dropping to 5-2 on the season. Meredith Felts picked up the victory for the Dukes after pitching two and a third innings of scoreless relief to become James Madison's all-time wins leader.
James Madison jumped on top in the second inning by taking advantage of a lead-off walk and a double steal. A single up the middle by Melissa Hill followed by one down the right field line by Shannon Moxey put the Dukes ahead 2-0. Gaudier got a ground out off the bat of Amber Kirk to end the inning with the bases loaded.
The Dukes put one more on the board in the fourth inning courtesy of a pair of Drexel throwing errors. Melissa Hill beat out an infield single and moved to second on a groundout. She came home on a high throw by Kristen Beaver at shortstop that would have ended the inning.
Christina Rodriguez energized the Dragons in the bottom of the fourth, leading off the inning with a double to the fence in left center. She came home on a grounder booted by second baseman Kaitlyn Wernsing to give Drexel its first tally of the game. Amanda Hastings worked a walk and Botelho followed by an opposite-field single to bring Gaudier in from second base, making it a 3-2 James Madison lead. The right fielder bobbled the ball allowing Hastings to make the turn and go to third base. Clohan steadied herself to strikeout Dacey and induce a pair of ground outs to get out of the inning.
Drexel used a two-out rally in the fifth to pull ahead. Rodriguez drew a walk and Gaudier kept the inning alive by beating out an infield single. Hastings stepped to plate and stroked a double to the wall, bringing home Rodriguez from second. Botelho followed with a liner that tagged the top of the wall in straight-away centerfield. Her long single emptied the bases, gave Drexel a 5-3 lead and chased starter Jenny Clohan. Meredith Felts relieved her to get the ender.
James Madison missed tying the game by a matter of inches in the top of the sixth. Courtney Simons drew a two-out walk and Amber Kirk drilled a line drive to centerfield the ball hit the top of the wall, just missing a home run. Centerfielder Lisa Williams barehanded the carom and fired the ball in to second base, holding the runners from scoring. Jenn Chavez followed with a single to center that plated Simons. Kirk was waved around from second base, but Williams' arm was equal to the challenge again. She fired a two-bounce throw to Botelho who scooped the throw and held her ground as Kirk came charging home, tagging her for the inning-ending out to keep the Dragons on top 5-4.
The Dukes pulled back ahead in the top of the seventh. Freshman Ellen Boundy relieved Gaudier in the top of the seventh. Kaitlyn Wernsing led off the inning with a bloop single to center field. She struckout Julia Dominguez looking at a pitch on the outside corner before surrendering a two-run homer to Brittany Dyson. Clohan, the number eight batter, popped up behind the plate and Botelho made a sliding catch and holding onto the ball while slamming into the backstop for the second out of the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh Hastings took an outside pitch the opposite way for a one-out single to left field. Botelho followed with a scorching ground out to the pitcher, bringing Dacey to the plate with two outs and a runner on second. But after an strike called on the outside corner to make it a 1-2 count, Dacey chased a second pitch on the outside, striking out to end the game.
Drexel is back in action next weekend when the team travels to play CAA-leading Hofstra in Hempstead, N.Y. The Dragons welcomed back softball alumni during the game as part of Alumni Day festivities at Drexel Field.
