Grippe Pitches Shutout, Softball Splits Doubleheader Against Ball State, Columbia

Saturday, February 29

Orlando, Fla.

9 a.m.

Drexel University

0-2

Ball State

13-5

Ball State

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos

Grippe Pitches Shutout, Softball Splits Doubleheader Against Ball State, Columbia

2/29/2020 2:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Drexel softball team split its doubleheader on Saturday at the UCF Invitational. The Dragons lost their first game against Ball State, 3-1, while winning the second game against Columbia, 8-0, in six innings, behind a complete-game shutout from Devon Grippe.

Game 1

Brooklyn Daly (0-1) threw a complete game for the Dragons (1-2). The right-hander struck out four and let up three earned runs on nine hits.

The lone run for the Dragons came off a bases-loaded walk to Linda Rush in the fifth inning. The Dragons' offense could not get anything working as the Cardinals held Drexel to only three hits, forcing the squad to strand eight runners on base.

How it happened

Daly held Ball State (13-5) in check for three innings, striking out three batters and only allowing one hit.

Ball State continued their timely power hitting with a double in the top of the third. That runner was eventually brought home on an RBI single up the middle allowing the Cardinals to take a 1-0 lead.

Drexel posed a threat in the fifth inning, but was only able to plate one run. Holly Bridgman drew a one-out walk. Reilly Jo Swanson reached base on an error. The pinch hitter, Jessica Schable, was then hit by a pitch to load the bases and bring up Rush, who drew an RBI walk. The next two batters went down on strikeouts.

In the top of the seventh Janae Hogg, who went 2-4 in yesterday's game, hit a two-run home run. Pushing the lead to 3-1 in favor of the Cardinals.

Drexel singled in the first two at bats in its portion of the seventh. With runners on first and second, the Cardinals' pitcher, Alyssa Rothwell (6-3) struck out the next three batters to finish the game.

Game 2

Grippe (1-0) returned to the circle today against Columbia (3-5) and pitched a complete game shutout. Grippe allowed six hits, one walk and struck out four while only throwing 105 pitches.

Megan Trivelpiece went 2-2 with three RBI's and Rush went 3-4 with two RBIs and crossed home plate once herself.

How it happened

The action started in the top of the fourth when Sarah Clinton tripled to right-center, scoring Hannah Walker. With Clinton on third, Trivelpiece hit a sac fly to left field, scoring Clinton giving the Dragons a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Swanson reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on Rush's single to left field. Swanson came home on Kristi DiMeo's RBI single and advanced Rush to third. Rush and DiMeo eventually came home after Trivelpiece singled, making the score 5-0, Drexel.

Grippe allowed two base hits in the fifth. The defense made an error to load the bases, but Grippe was able to escape the inning unscathed.

The rest of the scoring came in the top of the sixth. Elena Woulfe walked as the first batter of the inning. Carly Bowen replaced Woulfe as a pinch-runner and was able to advance to second on a throwing error. Garcia, who reached on the error was credited with a fielder's choice. Swanson then singled through the left side to load the bases up for Rush. The senior then singled and brought home Garcia and Bowen. Walker drove in the eighth run of the day off a double to left field, scoring Dryden, who pinch ran for Rush.

With the Dragons up eight, the game ended after six innings.

Up Next

The Dragons will return for the last day of the UCF Invitational to face LIU in the morning portion of their doubleheader. They will then face Columbia following the first game. The first pitch for the LIU game is 8:30 a.m.