Drexel University Athletics

Photo by: Ryan Samson
Softball Takes Two Games From Saint Peter's in Tuesday Doubleheader
3/30/2017 7:09:00 PM | Softball
PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel softball team took two games from Saint Peter's on Tuesday in a doubleheader at the Vidas Athletic Complex. The Dragons defeated the Peacocks, 9-0 in sixing innings in game one before going on to win the second game by an 11-6 margin. Taylor Lee went yard twice in game two, while rookies Linda Rush and Mari Gardner each hit a home run of their own on the day.
Drexel was the first to strike in game one, scoring a run off an RBI bunt single from Baeley Reed in the bottom of the first. The Dragons would add another run in the fourth inning and then go on to extend their advantage to 6-0 with a four-run bottom of the fifth. In the sixth inning, Drexel cemented its victory as Gardner hit the first home run of her career, giving the Dragons a 9-0 win in walk-off fashion.
The Dragons outhit the Peacocks, 9-2 in the first outing of the day. Reed went 3-for-3 from the plate with an RBI and two runs scored, while Gardner added a 2-for-4 performance with four RBI and two runs scored. Katie Haley threw five strikeouts on her way to her first shutout of the season. Sydney Ramsey was credited with the loss for the Peacocks.
The Peacocks got on the board first in game two, posting four runs in the top of the first to take an early lead. The Dragons retaliated in the bottom half of the inning, however, as Lightfoot and Rush hit back-to-back singles to set up Lee to hit her first three-run shot of the game. The single from Lightfoot marked her 100th career hit. After Lee's home run, the Dragons headed to the second inning trailing Saint Peter's by just one run, 4-3.
The Dragons tied things up in the bottom of the second. Hannah Walker hit a lead-off double and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. She crossed the plate as Taylor Kent grounded out to the right side of the infield.
Drexel and Saint Peter's remained knotted up at 4-4 into the bottom of the fourth, when the Dragons broke things wide open with four runs off of four hits. With two outs, Ladrido singled through the left side to get things started. Kent followed with a double to left field that scored Ladrido and then Lightfoot singled to bring Kent across the plate. With one on and two out, Rush came to the plate and hit her fourth home run of her rookie season to put Drexel up, 8-4.
The Peacocks were able to score a run in both the fifth and sixth innings to cut Drexel's lead to 8-6, but another three-run bomb from Lee gave the Dragons an advantage that Saint Peter's was unable to overcome. Drexel would go on to win the second game of the day, 11-6.
Lee went 2-for-4 in game two with six RBI and two run scored, while Rush added a 3-for-3 performance with two RBI. Ladrido also went 2-for-3 on the outing and both Kent and Lightfoot batted 2-for-4 as well with two runs scored apiece. The Dragons totaled 13 hits to the Peacock's 12 on the outing. Devon Grippe came on in relief of Tara Konopka in the fourth inning with the game tied at 4-4 and allowed only two earned runs through four innings on her way to earning her third win of the season.
With the wins the Dragons improve to 8-10 on the season, while the Peacocks move to 1-11.
Drexel will return to action this weekend as it hosts rival Delaware for a conference series. The Dragons and Blue Hens will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday with game one set for 11 a.m. Then on Sunday, the two squads will round out the series with a single game that is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Drexel was the first to strike in game one, scoring a run off an RBI bunt single from Baeley Reed in the bottom of the first. The Dragons would add another run in the fourth inning and then go on to extend their advantage to 6-0 with a four-run bottom of the fifth. In the sixth inning, Drexel cemented its victory as Gardner hit the first home run of her career, giving the Dragons a 9-0 win in walk-off fashion.
The Dragons outhit the Peacocks, 9-2 in the first outing of the day. Reed went 3-for-3 from the plate with an RBI and two runs scored, while Gardner added a 2-for-4 performance with four RBI and two runs scored. Katie Haley threw five strikeouts on her way to her first shutout of the season. Sydney Ramsey was credited with the loss for the Peacocks.
The Peacocks got on the board first in game two, posting four runs in the top of the first to take an early lead. The Dragons retaliated in the bottom half of the inning, however, as Lightfoot and Rush hit back-to-back singles to set up Lee to hit her first three-run shot of the game. The single from Lightfoot marked her 100th career hit. After Lee's home run, the Dragons headed to the second inning trailing Saint Peter's by just one run, 4-3.
The Dragons tied things up in the bottom of the second. Hannah Walker hit a lead-off double and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. She crossed the plate as Taylor Kent grounded out to the right side of the infield.
Drexel and Saint Peter's remained knotted up at 4-4 into the bottom of the fourth, when the Dragons broke things wide open with four runs off of four hits. With two outs, Ladrido singled through the left side to get things started. Kent followed with a double to left field that scored Ladrido and then Lightfoot singled to bring Kent across the plate. With one on and two out, Rush came to the plate and hit her fourth home run of her rookie season to put Drexel up, 8-4.
The Peacocks were able to score a run in both the fifth and sixth innings to cut Drexel's lead to 8-6, but another three-run bomb from Lee gave the Dragons an advantage that Saint Peter's was unable to overcome. Drexel would go on to win the second game of the day, 11-6.
Lee went 2-for-4 in game two with six RBI and two run scored, while Rush added a 3-for-3 performance with two RBI. Ladrido also went 2-for-3 on the outing and both Kent and Lightfoot batted 2-for-4 as well with two runs scored apiece. The Dragons totaled 13 hits to the Peacock's 12 on the outing. Devon Grippe came on in relief of Tara Konopka in the fourth inning with the game tied at 4-4 and allowed only two earned runs through four innings on her way to earning her third win of the season.
With the wins the Dragons improve to 8-10 on the season, while the Peacocks move to 1-11.
Drexel will return to action this weekend as it hosts rival Delaware for a conference series. The Dragons and Blue Hens will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday with game one set for 11 a.m. Then on Sunday, the two squads will round out the series with a single game that is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Haley, Katie (2-4)
L: Ramsey, Sydney (1-4)
Base Running:
HBP: Storms, Samantha 1

Batting:
2B: Gardner, Mari 1
HR: Gardner, Mari 1
RBI: Kent, Taylor 1 ; Reed, Baeley 1 ; Gardner, Mari 4 ; Okoniewski, Erin 1
SH: Skirha, Jourdan 1
SF: Kent, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kent, Taylor 1 ; Reed, Baeley 2 ; Uyesaka, Kai 1 ; Skirha, Jourdan 1 ; Gardner, Mari 2 ; Okoniewski, Erin 1 ; Hamilton, Ilissa 1
SB: Reed, Baeley 1 ; Gallagher, Taylor 1
CS: Okoniewski, Erin 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Drexel's Autocomplete With Softball Coach Katie Jansson.
Tuesday, March 18
The Drexel Dragons Podcast - Dr. Amanda Hastings
Wednesday, April 21
Linda Rush and Kristi DiMeo Combine for 40 Home Runs
Wednesday, July 10
2018-2019 All Sport Highlight
Thursday, May 23