Softball Topped in Extras, 3-1 By Iona

Thursday, April 19

Drexel Softball Field

3:30 p.m.

Drexel University

Iona

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

4/19/2012 6:39:00 PM | Softball

BOX SCORE

PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel softball team saw its losing streak reach five games on Thursday, as they fell in eight innings to Iona, 3-1. Shelby Taylor and Hillary Allen combined for an impressive nine-hit effort, but the Gaels scratched across two unearned runs in the eighth inning to get the win. Allen, who entered in the fifth inning, was tagged with the loss.

The game marked the beginning of a seven-game homestand, the Dragons' final seven home games of the season. The visitors from Iona grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt and a single back through the middle to score the game's first run.

The Dragons evened things up in the bottom of the second. With one away, Amanda Bachmann drew a walk. After Iona got a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Caprice DeMirjian poked a grounder through the hole on the right side of the infield for a single. Comfort Ahonkhai then dragged a bunt down the first base line, beating it out for a single to load the bases with two outs. Up stepped Drexel's leadoff hitter, Hanna Parrish, who hit a slow roller towards the shortstop. Trying to get the force at second, Brianna Schauer flipped the ball there, but the speedy Ahonkhai slid into the bag safely. Everyone was safe as a result of that decision, and Bachmann crossed the plate with the tying run.

The sixth inning proved to be pivotal in sending the game to extra innings. In the top of the frame, Iona had a runner on second with two outs when Allyssa James lined a single into center field. Parrish, who moved to center in a series of switches in the fourth inning when shortstop Devon Metcalf left with a minor injury, came up with the ball and fired towards the plate. Maddision Timoteo had the plate blocked perfectly, and caught the ball on one hop and applied the tag for the third out of the inning, keeping the game tied.

Drexel had its chance to untie the game in the bottom of the sixth. Allen led off with a looping fly ball to shallow right which dropped in front of the Gaels' right fielder, who overran it as Allen raced around to second for a double. Ahonkhai moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt that was the second out, but Parrish struck out to end the inning.

The position switch earlier in the game came back to haunt the Dragons in the eighth as shortstop Ahonkhai, normally the center fielder, had trouble getting the ball out of her glove on a grounder to shortstop and was charged with an error as Eileen McCann reached with one out. The next batter walked, and a single played McCann with an unearned go-ahead run.

After Allen got a ground ball for the second out, James lined a single back through the middle to plate the second unearned run of the inning. In the bottom of the eighth, the Dragons were set down in order as Iona locked up the victory.

Drexel will get back on the field this weekend, when it hosts UNCW for a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday. First pitch both days is 11:00 a.m., with a doubleheader being played Saturday and a single game in line for Sunday.