Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Penn
Dragons Split With University City Rival Penn
4/23/2008 8:52:04 PM | Softball
Philadelphia - Drexel rebounded from a tough 4-3 loss in game one to salvage a split with Penn (22-20) in a 7-4 victory in the nightcap of Wednesday's softball doubleheader at Warren Field. Sandi Wambold hit her 11th career home run in the opener and Christina Rodriguez belted the sixth of her career in the second game. The Dragons improve to 22-17 with the split.
Game One
Drexel took a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning on a two-run triple by Molly Dacey to left centerfield. But the Dragons quickly saw their lead evaporate in the bottom of the frame. With the score knotted at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh Alisha Prystowsky came in to score the winning run on a wild pitch by reliever Ellen Boundy, allowing the Quakers to steal the victory.
Sandi Wambold moved into a tie with Ashley Botelho for second place on Drexel's all-time home runs list when she hit a towering blast in the fifth inning that was headed for Route 76 as it exited Warren Field over the left field fence.
Starter Breanna Gomez pitched a solid game, scattering six hits over five innings while allowing just three earned runs and striking out three. She was relieved in the sixth inning by Boundy with one run in, a runner on first and no outs. After allowing one run to come in on a sacrifice fly she got out of the tough inning with the score tied, keeping her team in the game.
Wambold, who went 2-for-3 in the contest also had a hit in the nightcap, she is now just six hits shy of joining Drexel's 100-hit club. Her classmate, Christina Rodriguez also had two hits in the loss, going 2-for-4 with two singles at the plate.
Game Two
Drexel used a five-run sixth inning to come from behind for a 7-4 win in game two on Wednesday. The Dragons broke the inning open on an RBI double down the left field line by Amanda Hastings with runners on second and third. Botelho followed by ripping a single through the left side of the infield and Molly Dacey brought in another run with a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-2 Drexel lead.
The Quakers got two runs back in the bottom of the inning on lead-off triple followed by a pair of RBI doubles. But starter Katrina Gaudier steadied herself and got out of the inning with a ground ball to third base.
Rodriguez hit her two-run shot in the seventh inning to give the Dragons some insurance runs. It was all the cushion Gaudier would require as she closed out the complete game victory for her 13th win of the season.
The Dragons are back in action at home this weekend when they host Towson in a CAA show down at Drexel Field. The series kicks off with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 26 at noon and finishes up with the finale on April 27 at noon.
