Seventh-Inning Rally Falls Short in 5-4 Loss to Villanova

Thursday, April 29

Villanova, Pa.

3:00 p.m.

Drexel University

Villanova

Seventh-Inning Rally Falls Short in 5-4 Loss to Villanova

4/29/2010 4:58:03 PM | Softball

Box Score

Villanova, Pa. - Trailing 5-2 in the seventh inning, Drexel scored twice and had the tying run in scoring position before a foul fly ball tracked down by third baseman Kristi Burlin ended the Dragons' rally in a 5-4 Villanova (21-27) win. Paige Collings went 2-for-4 and drove in a run as the Dragons (19-19) dropped their final non-conference tune-up before closing out the season with six CAA games over the next two weekends.

Amanda Bachmann led off the seventh with a double to the wall in left center. Caprice DeMirjian followed her lead with a grounder up the middle, giving the Dragons runners on first and third with no outs. Clutch-hitting Kelly Downes drove a double to left field to plate Bachmann and cut 'Nova's lead to 5-3. The Wildcats got Collings to pop out after a considerable delay for pitching and outfield substitutions. Botelho came to the plate and after drilling a pair of long foul balls, she drove an outside pitch to right field for a sacrifice fly that made it a 5-4 game. Reading came to the plate with two outs and the tying run on second, but a pop fly down the third base line, which was nearly out of play, fell in to the glove of Burlin for the game-ender.

Caitlyn Delahaba got the win for Villanova. She allowed one earned run in six and two-thirds innings on five hits without walking a batter, she also struck out seven.

Collings gave Drexel a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the first inning to plate Hanna Parrish with her team-leading 27th run driven in this season.

The Dragons took advantage of three Villanova fielding errors in the second inning to go up 2-0 on a ground ball by Amanda Bachmann that was misplayed by the Wildcats' shortstop.

Kristi Burlin cut the Dragons' lead in half with a solo home run off Drexel starter Hillary Allen in the bottom of the second inning. Designated hitter Molly Manning would tie the game an inning later on an RBI single to right field .

Ellen Boundy relieved Allen to start the fourth inning and quickly retired the Wildcats in order in the frame.

The fifth inning was not as kind to Boundy. It began with a long fly ball misjudged by Laura Stagliano in centerfield that went for a lead-off triple. She would come in to score on a sacrifice fly before Boundy gave way to Shyann Beach. Two more runs scored on back-to-back singles by Mannign and Burlin to give Villanova a 5-2 lead.

Manning relieved starter Caitlyn Delahaba with two outs in the sixth inning to get the inning-ender. Delahaba was called back to the rubber in the seventh inning after Manning, 'Nova's leader in wins this season, allowed a double and a single to start the last frame to key Drexel's comeback bid.

Boundy took the loss for the Dragons after allowing three earned runs on a hit and two walks in an inning and a third of relief.

Drexel opens a three-game CAA series against James Madison this weekend at Drexel Field. The Dragons will play a doubleheader against the Dukes on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. on Family Day. On Sunday seniors Ashley Botelho, Katrina Gaudier and Carla Waldron will be honored prior to the 11:00 game on Senior Day.