Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Towson
Opportunistic Dragons Earn Doubleheader Sweep of Towson
4/26/2008 3:29:52 PM | Softball
Philadelphia - Drexel softball took a pair of games from Colonial Athletic Associaion rival Towson at Drexel Field as the Dragons defeated the Tigers, 9-1, before winning, 4-3, in the second game. All 13 of Drexel's runs in the two games were unearned as the Dragons capitalized on key Towson two-out errors to extend innings and outscore the Tigers. The wins improved Drexel's record to 24-17 overall and 9-8 in the CAA while Towson dipped to 32-22 and 9-7 in the conference. The teams will play the final game of the three-game series tomorrow.
Game One
The Dragons got on the board first as Christina Rodriguez led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and advanced to second on Katrina Gaudier's sacrifice bunt. Amanda Hastings looked to advance Rodriguez to third with a bunt but lined her attempt to the pitcher who fired to second base to double off Rodriguez. The centerfielder covering on the play was unable to come up with the ball as Rodriguez trotted home while the ball rolled to the centerfield fence. The Dragons added to their lead in the next inning as Sandi Wambold, Carla Waldron and Lisa Williams each singled to load the bases with two outs. Rodriguez stepped to the plate and grounded to third base where the ball was bobbled then fired to first. Rodriguez beat the throw but the ball popped out of the first baseman's mitt and trickled into right field as Wambold and Waldron scored. Gaudier followed with an RBI single down the left field line to scored Rodriguez. Hastings followed with a solid line drive to centerfield that caromed off of the centerfielder's glove as Gaudier raced around to score the Dragons' fourth run of the inning.
After Gaudier pitched her way out of her second bases loaded jam in as many innings, Drexel put four more runs on the board. After Molly Dacey struck out to lead off the inning, Wambold picked up her second single of the day. Carla Waldron flied out to left field but Kristen Beaver kept the inning alive with a single up the middle. Lisa Williams hit a groundball to the pitcher that was bobbled before thrown to first but Williams beat the throw as Wambold scored on the play. Rodriguez followed with a home run to centerfield that gave the Dragons a 9-0 lead.
Drexel gave up one run in the fifth inning but maintained an eight-run lead to halt the game after the top of the fifth inning. Gaudier earned the win as she allowed one earned run on seven hits. Towson's Shannon Johnston was charged with the loss despite not allowing an earned run.
Game Two
Towson starter Clair Rietmann-Grout seemed to be cruising as she faced the minimum six hitters through the first two innings before running into trouble in the third. With one out, Beaver singled to centerfield before Williams reached on an error as the Towson second baseman could not hang on to a throw in an attempt to get the force out on Beaver at second base. Rodriguez hit a fly ball into foul territory that was caught but advanced the Drexel baserunners to second and third base. With two outs, Gaudier hit a fly ball to left field that Tigers' left fielder Emily Gould misjudged. Gould came in on the ball but saw the ball fall behind her. Both runners scored while Gaudier ended up on second base. Amanda Hastings followed with a two-run home run to centerfield as the Dragons extended their lead to 4-0.
Drexel starter Breanna Gomez allowed just three hits through five innings but the Tigers were able to run Gomez from the game in the sixth. Mindy Bean led off with a single before Gomez was able to induce a routine fly ball to right field for the first out. Designated player Aimee Rosa drew a walk before Stephanie Fudurich doubled home both runs to cut Drexel's lead in half. Ellen Boundy entered the game for the Dragons. Boundy allowed a single to Gould before Steph Streets hit an RBI groundout to second base that brought Drexel's lead down to 4-3. WIth two outs, Boundy got catcher Meaghan Clark to pop up to Beaver at shortstop to end the inning. Boundy extinguished the Tigers in the seventh to earn her second save of the season.
