Softball Takes Two from La Salle, Rush Records 100th Career Hit

Wednesday, April 18

Drexel Softball Field

2 p.m.

Drexel University

14-9-2

La Salle

12-22

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
La Salle	0	0	0	3	0	2	0	5	10	4
Drexel	2	3	4	0	1	0	X	10	16	1

Softball Takes Two from La Salle, Rush Records 100th Career Hit

4/18/2018 7:22:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PHILADELPHIA – Linda Rush recorded her 100th career hit and Hannah Walker hit a grand slam to help the Drexel softball team sweep La Salle on Wednesday afternoon at the Drexel Softball Field. The Dragons won game one, 10-5, before run-ruling the Explorers, 10-2, in the nightcap.

In game one, Drexel got on the board first after Walker reached home when La Salle catcher Ashley Mendenhall overthrew to second in an attempt to tag out Linda Rush, who stole second. Taylor M. Lee then made it a 2-0 game hitting a single to left to drive in Rush.

The explorers threatened in the top of the second with two outs, but the Drexel defense proved to be superior as Devon Grippe struck out Deanna Pineiro for the remaining out, leaving two on base.

Using a two-run single from Walker and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Rush to plate Taylor Kent, Drexel jumped out to a 5-0 lead heading into the top of the third.

A repeat of the second, Grippe struck out the final batter in the third, leaving two on base to blank the Explorers for a third consecutive inning.

With two outs, a full count and the bases loaded, Walker belted a grand slam out of left center to put the Dragons ahead 9-0 in the third.

La Salle then used a home run and a squeeze bunt for three, but Drexel added a run in the fifth off of a Kristi DiMeo RBI double to pad the Dragons lead, 10-3.

The Explorers were able to cut the deficit in half with a two-run homer, however, it was not enough to comeback and overcome the Dragons early 9-0 advantage.

DiMeo went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a RBI while Rush went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Devon Grippe pitched a complete game for the win and improved her record to 4-7. She yielded 10 hits and five runs while striking out five and only issued two walks.

In game two, the Dragons immediately took a 2-0 lead using a Rush sacrifice fly and a DiMeo double to right to drive in runners. The Explorers got a run back right away, though, with a RBI double to center to keep them in the game.

Drexel then broke the game open with a four-run second inning to secure its lead, 6-1, when Walker laced a two-run single through right field before DiMeo smacked her fourth double of the day to center for two more.

La Salle got one back in the third with a homer out of center, but the Dragons matched it with a Walker RBI single in the bottom of the inning and later extended their lead to 8-2 with a Bridgman sacrifice fly to score Ladrido.

The final say would come in the bottom of the sixth when DiMeo hit a walk off two-run home run out of center field to run-rule the Explorers, 10-2.

Ladrido had a perfect appearance at the plate, going 3-for-3 while Kent and DiMeo each went 3-for-4. DiMeo also added five RBI, two doubles and a home run. Katie Haley pitched a complete game and improved her record to 7-7. She only allowed three hits and two runs while striking out six batters.

The Dragons will return to action when they travel to Hofstra for a three-game CAA series. The Dragons and Pride will face off in a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. and then round out the series with a single game on Sunday at 12 p.m.