Drexel Picks Up Two Wins Over Coppin State

Wednesday, April 2

Drexel Softball Field

1:00 p.m.

Drexel University

11-12

Coppin State

5-12

Coppin State

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

4/2/2014 5:35:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel softball team defeated Coppin State in both games of Wednesday's doubleheader. The Dragons earned a 3-1 victory over the Eagles in game one and then picked up a 12-4 win in five innings in the second game of the day.

Leticia Matsuoka started things off for Drexel in game one with a double to right field. Vanessa Lightfoot moved her over to second with a sacrifice bunt and then Shelby Taylor hit a long sacrifice fly to left field to drive in the Dragons' first run of the day. In the second, the squad continued its scoring effort as Comfort Ahonkhai reached base on a bunt-for-a-hit and then stole second base during the next at bat. Kimberly Chan sent a double into right center field which brought Ahonkhai home to give Drexel a 2-0 lead.

In the next inning, the Dragons would add their third run of the game as Matsuoka led off with a single up the middle and Lightfoot laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached base on a throwing error by the Eagles' pitcher. Matsuoka, now at third base, crossed the plate as her and Lightfoot executed a successful double steal.

The Eagles would get on the board with one run in the top of the fourth, but the Drexel defense held Coppin State scoreless for the remainder of the game to earn a 3-1 victory. Taylor threw nine strikeouts and allowed only three hits and one run in seven innings of work to earn her eighth win of the season.

The Eagles were the first to strike in the second game of the day, putting up a run in the top of the second. Drexel retaliated by batting around and scoring seven runs off six hits in the bottom of the inning. In the third the Eagles decreased the deficit by adding two more runs, making it a 7-3 game. This time the Dragons responded with a three-run scoring effort to increase their lead to 10-3.

Each team added a run in the fourth inning, bringing the score to 11-4. Rose Portiolli came into the game to pitch for the Dragons in the fifth and held the Eagles scoreless. As the bottom of the fifth began, Maddison Timoteo reached base on an error and Baeley Reed turned a bunt into a single to move Timoteo to second. Liana Newton laid down a sacrifice bunt next to advance the runners to second and third. Sylvia Llamas came to the plate and hit a single up the middle to drive in the Dragons' 12th run, giving Drexel a 12-4 advantage and thus putting the mercy rule into effect.

Reed went 4-for-4 in Drexel's second winning effort of the day. With the two wins, the Dragons improve to 12-12 on the year. Next up, Drexel will visit conference rival Delaware for a three-game series this weekend.