Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Memphis (Kennesaw State Classic)
Wambold Blasts Dragons Past Memphis 4-1 in Season Opener
2/20/2009 2:25:40 PM | Softball
Atlanta – Sandi Wambold homered her way into the Drexel record books while helping her team defeat Memphis (5-4) 4-1 in the Dragons' season opener at the K-Club Classic hosted by Kennesaw State. Wambold hit a pair of homers that moved her into tie for the all-time career record held by Molly Dacey with 14. Junior Katrina Gaudier pitched a complete game for her first victory of the season. The Dragons play two more games today, facing Iowa at 3:00 p.m. and Buffalo at 6:30 tonight. To catch the Iowa game on gametracker click here.
The Tigers jumped ahead of Drexel in the second inning when pitcher and clean-up hitter Vanessa Walle helped out her own cause with a homer to left field off Katrina Gaudier.
Wambold evened the score with a round-tripper of her own to straight-away center field in the bottom of the frame.. Her second-inning shot was the 13th of her career, she is just one shy of matching Molly Dacey's career record of 14 homers.
The Dragons got their second run of the game playing small-ball in the third inning. Kristen Beaver led off with a walk and Lisa Williams advanced her with a bunt down the third base line. The Tigers' third baseman Maddie McKinley made a throwing error on the play that allowed Beaver to move to third and Williams to take second. Rodriguez hit a grounder to short and Tori Gross tried to cut down the run, but failed as Rodriguez reached first and Williams moved to second with Beaver coming in to give the Dragons a 2-1 lead. After a steal by Rodriguez, the Dragons' top base thief last season, Gaudier helped herself out with a bloop single into short right field that plated Williams to make it 3-1.
Rookie Paige Collings picked up her first career hit with a single to short center field in the bottom of the sixth inning. After pinch runner Rachel Campbell was thrown out trying to steal second, Wambold stepped to the plate and blasted her second homer of the game to match the program's all-time record for career home runs and give her team a 4-1 lead going into the last inning.
Gaudier induced three ground outs and pitched around a single in the top of the seventh to close out her complete-game victory. She allowed one run on five hits and three walks and struck out one batter to pick up her first win of the season.
