Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Hofstra
Hofstra Slips Past Dragons 3-0 on Senior Day
4/26/2009 1:14:46 PM | Softball
Philadelphia – Drexel put runners on base in all but one inning, including putting four in scoring position through the first two innings, but failed to push a run across the plate. Hofstra (26-16, 14-3) got on the board first with a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning and added two more by playing small ball in the fifth inning to hold off the Dragons (22-19, 6-11) for a 3-0 win on Sunday and a series sweep. Ashley Botelho went 3-for-3 in the game and seniors Christina Rodriguez, Sandi Wambold and Kristen Beaver all got base hits on Senior Day. Rodriguez, Wambold and Beaver were honored along with Jessica Bongiovanni, Amanda Shattuck and Lisa Williams prior to the game as part of Senior Day proceedings.
Kayleigh Lotti earned her third win of the series for Hofstra with seven innings of scoreless ball. She allowed six hits and struckout three and walked one to improve to 18-6 on the season.
Senior Amanda Shattuck took the ball for Drexel in the series finale. She turned in one of her best outings of the season, allowing two earned runs through four and one-third innings on four hits and four walks. She dropped to 2-3 on the season with the loss.
Seniors Christina Rodriguez and Lisa Williams, whose careers have been highlighted by excellent defensive play in the outfield, opened senior day with a pair of superlative running catches in the top of the first inning. The Dragons responded on offense by putting two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the frame before Paige Collings fouled out to end the inning.
In the second Rodriguez beat out an infield single to lead off the inning and after being bunted over by Kelly Downes, senior Jessica Bongiovanni came back from an 0-2 hole to draw a walk. Kristen Beaver successfully advanced the runners to second and third with a grounder to the right side. But with two outs Devon Metcalf grounded back to pitcher Kayleigh Lotti to end the inning.
After effectively mixing pitch speed and location to keep Hofstra off balance through the first three innings, starter Amanda Shattuck struggled with her control in the fourth. She hit a batter and walked in a run with two outs before getting pinch hitter Stefanie Feinstein out on a grounder to second to end the inning with Hofstra on top 1-0.
Shattuck lasted four and one-third innings and held Hofstra in check throughout, but after walking two batters in the fifth inning she exited in favor of game-one starter Hillary Allen with one out and runners on second and third. Sara Michalowski, the first batter Allen faced, pulled a single through the hole on the left side for an RBI single and Carolann Lubach followed with an RBI groundout to shortstop to give Hofstra a 3-0 lead by the end of the fifth.
Drexel appeared to get to Lotti in the bottom of the fifth when Botelho and Wambold put together back-to-back singles, solidly hit up the middle to load the bases with two outs. But after working a 2-1 count, designated hitter Paige Collings flew out to right field to end the inning.
The Dragons refused to go out without a fight in the bottom of the seventh. Senior Kristen Beaver fouled off three pitches before singling to right field to lead off the inning. But Devon Metcalf blasted a grounder to the left side that resulted in a double play that stifled all notions of a Drexel rally.
The Dragons are back in action at Drexel Field on Tuesday with a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader against St. Peter's.
