Big Innings Propel Softball, 7-4 over Saint Joseph's

Thursday, April 12

Philadelphia, Pa.

3:00 p.m.

Drexel University

Saint Joseph's

Photo by: Ryan Samson

Big Innings Propel Softball, 7-4 over Saint Joseph's

4/12/2012 5:04:00 PM | Softball

BOX SCORE

PHILADELPHIA - Two big innings and two long flies helped the Drexel softball team win its second-straight game over a Philadelphia city rival on Thursday, as the Dragons scored four in the fifth and three more in the seventh to defeat Saint Joseph's, 7-4. Jenn Reading provided the big blow in the fifth with her eighth home run of the year, a three-run shot. Then in the seventh, the freshman Jill Popek provided what would prove to be three big insurance runs with a three-run blast of her own, her first-career home run.

Hillary Allen went the distance to earn the victory for Drexel, improving her record on the season to 9-8. She struck out nine and allowed just two earned runs.

The Dragons fell behind 1-0 in the fourth inning, when the Hawks scored an unearned run on a walk, a single and an error. In the fifth, Caprice DeMirjian led off for Drexel with a base hit over the shortstop's head and into the gap in left-center field. Comfort Ahonkhai followed by putting down a perfect bunt for a base hit, setting up runners at first and second with no one out.

After Hanna Parrish pushed the runners up on a sacrifice bunt and Devon Metcalf grounded out, it looked like Saint Joseph's might be able to escape unscathed. However, Paige Collings made the Hawks pay with a line drive single to left field, plating DeMirjian and tying the game. The Hawks were able to hold Ahonkhai at third with a strong throw to the plate, but Collings took second.

Up stepped Reading, who came into the game leading the Dragons with seven home runs on the year. She promptly crushed No. 8 deep over the wall in left, a three-run shot that moved her within one of Collings' program record of nine home runs in a single season set last year.

Drexel maintained a 4-1 lead into the seventh inning, when they appeared to put the game out of reach with three runs in the top of the inning. With one away, Parrish lined a single to right. Metcalf followed by beating out an infield single on a swinging bunt back towards the Hawks' pitcher. After Collings flew out, Jill Popek came to the plate to hit for Reading. A freshman from Edison, N.J., Popek had just two hits, both singles, coming into the at bat.

All that flew out the window when the ball flew out of the ballpark. Popek got ahold of one and crushed it up and out to left-center field, Drexel's second three-run homer of the game making the score 7-1.

Saint Joseph's did not go quietly in the seventh, scoring three runs including one unearned run and loading the bases with one out before Allen got a pop up and a fly out to shut the door. For Allen, it was her 12th complete game of the season, leaving her with 82 strikeouts over 109.1 innings of work.

Drexel will be on the road this weekend, as the Dragons take on Georgia State in a big three-game Colonial Athletic Association series. The two teams play a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for noon. They will also play a single game on Sunday at noon.