Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
USP
Dragons Sweep City Rival University of Sciences
3/11/2009 10:36:41 PM | Softball
Philadelphia - Christina Rodriguez found her batting stroke in game one against the University of the Sciences, going 4-for-4 with her first homer of the year to lead the Dragons to an 11-0 victory in five innings. Rookie Paige Collings also went 4-for-4 at the plate in Drexel's game one win. In the nightcap, Ashley Botelho went 3-for-4 and Drexel held off a late rally for a 4-3 win to improve to 7-5 on the season.
Drexel matched its single-game record with seven doubles in the opening game against USP, an 11-0 victory in five innings. Katrina Gaudier and Amanda Shattuck combined for the run-rule shortened victory. Paige Collings led the doubles parade as two of her four hits were two-baggers.
Sandi Wambold drove in three runs and Collings, Rodriguez and Devon Metcalf drove in two apiece. Drexel plated three in the first inning and five in the second to take the requisite eight-run lead which allowed for the game to end after five innings with the Dragons on top 11-0.
The Dragons used three doubles to drive in three runs in the first inning and serve early notice USP. In the second inning five runs crossed the plate for the Dragons. A bases-loaded triple by Wambold brought three home and Collings followed that with a triple of her own to send Wambold trotting in with the fourth run of the inning. In all, five runs would come home on six Drexel hits in the inning.
Drexel would add one more in the third inning on a solo shot by Rodriguez and then plate two in the fourth on RBI singles by Metcalf and Rodriguez.
Gaudier earned the victory after pitching three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out one batter.
Botelho's three-hit game provided the offense for Drexel in it's 4-3 win in the nightcap of the doubleheader against USP. Ellen Boundy threw fiour solid innings and struckout a career-high six batters to earn her third win of the season. Hillary Allen picked up her second save this season after pitching the final three innings, striking out two without letting up an earned run.
Three USP errors in the first inning led to three of Drexel's four runs to give the Dragons an early 3-0 lead. The University of the Sciences got their first run of the day after a pair of wild pitches from Boundy and an RBI single made it a 3-1 contest.
Drexel manufactured an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning after Jessica Bongiovanni led off the inning with a single. She was lifted for pinch runner Kristen Beaver, who quickly stole second base and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Rookie Caprice DeMirjian brought her home with a single to give Drexel a 4-1 lead. That run would prove to be crucial as USP scored twice in the bottom of the frame to draw within one run of the Dragons. But Allen would settle herself to induce a game-ending groundout.
Drexel is back in action this weekend at the Delaware State Tournament where they will face the host, St. Francis (Pa.) and Central Connecticut State.
