Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Lafayette
Boundy Pitches Dragons Past Lafayette in Game One of Wednesday Doubleheader
4/1/2009 4:51:15 PM | Softball
Phiiladelphia- Ellen Boundy turned in one of the best pitching performances of her career as a starter to open Drexel's doubleheader against Lafayette (6-13). The sophomore, who was used mostly as a relief pitcher last season. Struckout a career-high nine batters and held Lafayette scoreless after the first inning in Drexel's 3-1 victory. Christina Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with an RBI to help the Dragons improve to 15-11 on the season. Game two was cancelled in the first inning due to heavy rain.
Lafayette struck first in the first inning against Drexel's Canadian battery of Ellen Boundy on the mound and Paige Collings behind the plate. Robyn Matchett drew a lead-off walk and Gwen Turner bunted her to second. Designated hitter Kasey Karr worked her way to a 3-2 count and fouled off five pitches before singling to left field. Christina Rodriguez mishandled the ball on a soggy outfield which allowed Matchett to score from second, giving Lafayette a 1-0 lead.
Drexel responded with two of its own in the bottom of the first. Rodriguez atoned for her fielding miscue by placing a single on the right field line to bring home Kristen Beaver from second base. Following a groundout by Paige Collings, Ashley Botelho scampered home on a past ball with Katy Harrington at the plate to put Drexel on top 2-1.
Beaver again got things going for the Dragons in the third inning when she worked a lead-off walk and came in to score on a single to the wall in right center by Botelho. Rodriguez followed it with another rip up the middle and it looked like the Dragons were about to break open the game. But Lafayette right fielder Robyn Matchett had other thoughts. She caught a fly-out by Harrington and threw out Botelho at third base to end the inning with Drexel on top 3-1.
After the first inning, Boundy found her groove at the mound and held Lafayette off the scoreboard for the next six innings, facing just five over the minimum during that span. Lafayette got its lead-off runner on in the fifth inning with a single, but Boundy quickly quashed the threat by striking out a pair of Leopard pinch hitters and inducing a groundout to end the inning.
The Leopards threatened one last time in the bottom of the seventh when Carly Feiro singled with two outs and Emma Kline reached on a ball booted by Metcalf at third. But Boundy picked up her teammate, fanning lead-off hitter Robyn Matchett to end the game.
Boundy improved to 4-1 with her best effort of the season. She dispersed five hits through seven innings with two walks and nine strikeouts. Ali Henry dropped to 4-7 for the Leopards after letting up two earned runs on four hits and four walks over six innings.
