Softball Splits Doubleheader with Towson

Friday, April 18

Drexel Softball Field

1:00 p.m.

Drexel University

16-18, 0

Towson

23-17, 0

Towson

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

4/18/2014 5:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PHILADELPHIA – The Drexel softball team split a doubleheader with Towson to kick off this weekend's series with the visiting Tigers. The Dragons were edged by Towson, 2-1 in the first game but then came back to defeat the Tigers, 9-1 in five innings of work in game two.

Towson struck first in game one, as leadoff batter Olivia Yarbrough made her way around the bases and scored on an error. The Tigers held a 1-0 lead into the fourth and then added another run by putting together a double and a single to make it a 2-0 game.

The Dragons retaliated in the bottom of the inning, as Shelby Taylor drew a walk and then advanced to second on a single up the middle by Karli Boyer. Liana Newton came up next and put down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Two batters later, Baeley Reed hit a long sacrifice fly out to left field to bring Taylor home and get Drexel on the board, 2-1 with three innings to go. Despite the effort the Dragons were unable to overcome the deficit, giving Towson their 23 victory of the season.

The Tigers were first to strike again in game two, as they got on the board in the top of the second with a solo home run from Delanie Dunham. Towson held this lead until the bottom of the third when the Dragons broke the game open by putting up a four spot.

Towson had picked up two quick outs as Jourdan Skirha flied out to right and Ellen Scott lined out to third base. Leticia Matsuoka came up next and drew a walk and was able to advance to second when Vanessa Lightfoot reached base on an error. With runners on first and second, Taylor hit a single into left field to bring Matsuoka home and tie the game at 1-1. Karli Boyer followed with a single to right center, scoring Lightfoot and moving Taylor over to third. Newton continued the hitting effort with a single to left center to bring Taylor across the plate. Reed batted next and legged out an infield single to the third baseman to load the bases. Comfort Ahonkhai came up next and reached base on an error, which brought in another run to make it a 4-1 game.

Drexel's scoring effort was not done yet. Just one inning later, the Dragons added another four runs with the help of an RBI single from Lightfoot and a three-run home run by Taylor, her seventh long ball of the season. The shot gave the Dragons an 8-1 lead going into the fifth inning.

After holding the Tigers scoreless in the top of the fifth, the Drexel offense got to work yet again. Kimberly Chan came in to pinch hit and sent a double into center field. With Skirha pinch running for Chan, Scott laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the winning run over to third base. Matsuoka came to the plate next and sent the ball down the left field line to drive in a run and secure a 9-1 win in five innings for the Dragons.

Rose Portiolli earned the victory for the Dragons after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings of work. With the win, the Dragons improve to 17-18 overall and 4-7 in conference competition while Towson moves to 23-18, 3-5 CAA.

The Dragons and Tigers return to action tomorrow for the final game of this weekend's series. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. with Senior Day festivities to be held beforehand.