Softball Blanks Charleston to Move On in CAA Championships

Thursday, May 9

Harrisonburg, Va.

2:30 p.m.

Drexel University

32-26-1

No. 5 College of Charleston

26-30

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Charleston	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Drexel	2	4	2	0	X	8	7	1

Softball Blanks Charleston to Move On in CAA Championships

5/9/2019 3:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – A day after dropping a thrilling 11-inning game to the College of Charleston in the opener of the CAA Championships, the Drexel softball team jumped in front early and left no room for doubt as the fourth-seeded Dragons eliminated the No. 5 Cougars, 8-0.

The win advances Drexel to its first ever CAA semifinal appearance, a game that will immediately follow the win over Charleston. The Dragons will take on second-seeded Elon for a spot in Friday's championship series.

Linda Rush slammed her 22nd home run of the season, extending her Drexel and CAA single-season record with a three-run opposite-field shot in the second inning. Rush would add another RBI in the third inning, her 78th of the season which established a new CAA single-season record. Haley Hulitt drove in a pair of runs, while Kristi DiMeo went 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored. Reilly Jo Swanson also scored twice, while Sarah Clinton had two hits including a double and a run scored.

Devon Grippe won her 10th game of the year, allowing just two hits while facing just one batter over the minimum in five sterling innings.

Clinton's leadoff double in the first inning set the tone for the Dragons' offense. With one out and runners at first and second, Hulitt's single to right plated Clinton. Megan Trivelpiece followed with an infield hit that loaded the bases for Taylor Lee, whose sacrifice fly made it a 2-0 game as DiMeo, who had walked earlier in the frame, tagged up and scored.

A pair of walks to open the bottom of the second spelled trouble for the Cougars when Rush pushed the Dragons' lead to 5-0 with her opposite field blast. DiMeo followed with a double and scored on a Hulitt groundout. The duo of Rush and DiMeo added RBIs in the bottom of the third to provide the final 8-0 margin.

Drexel and Elon will face off at 5 p.m. on Thursday afternoon for the right to face host school and top-seeded James Madison in Friday's championship round. The Dukes would need to win just once on Friday to capture the conference title, while Drexel or Elon would need a pair of victories to capture what would be the first CAA title for either school.