Softball Wins Twice at Pirate Invitational on Saturday

Saturday, March 7

Norfolk, Va.

10 a.m.

Drexel University

2-5

UMBC

4-8

UMBC

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos

Softball Wins Twice at Pirate Invitational on Saturday

3/7/2020 6:01:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

NORFOLK, Va. – The Drexel University softball team picked up two wins in the doubleheader on Saturday. The Dragons won game one against UMBC, 9-1, and defeated St. Peter's in game two, 12-1. The first game ended after six innings, and the second game ended after five.

Between the two games, the Dragons (3-5) held their opponents to five hits and two runs. The offense scored 21 runs on 22 hits.

Linda Rush hit three home runs on four at-bats. Rush hit two in the first game and one in the second game.

GAME 1
Devon Grippe (2-0) got the start in the circle for the Dragons and went the distance. She threw her second complete game of the season and gave up a run, although it was unearned. Grippe struck out five.

Rush went 2-for-2 with two home runs and two walks with two RBIs and one run. Rush's two home runs are tied for the most in program history with Rush hitting two home runs six times before this.

Jessica Schable went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the bottom of the first, Rush hit her second home run of the season to left field.

The Dragons scored two more runs with an RBI double to left-center by Reilly Jo Swanson. Kent then tripled, scoring Swanson. The Dragons were winning 3-0.

Rush hit her second home run of the day to lead off the bottom of the third.

UMBC (4-8) scored its lone run in the top of the fourth. A passed ball pushed a runner to third and Imani Dawson singled the run in making the score, 4-1.

Drexel blew the game wide open in the bottom of the fourth with a fielder's choice on Hannah Walker's at-bat. With the fielder's choice, Swanson scored. With runners on first and third, Rush stepped into the batter's box looking for more. UMBC did not allow Rush to swing the bat at all as they granted her first base intentionally. Schable then drove in two runs on a single. Scoring on the play was Rush and Sarah Clinton. Kristi DiMeo also scored, but she scored on an error by the shortstop.

Schable drove in the final run for the Dragons in the sixth with a single down the left line. Savaanah Garcia scored on the play. The Dragons had the lead, 9-1, and the game ended due to the eight-run mercy rule.

GAME TWO
Meghan Conroy (1-2) started game two in the circle for the Dragons. She went all five innings, allowing four hits and one run while striking out four.

DiMeo went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. She also drew a walk.

Rush hit her third home run of the day while going 2-for-3 and scoring three runs and bring home two RBIs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After Rush reached on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first, she scored from first DiMeo's double. Schable added onto the 1-0 lead by reaching on a fielding error. Scoring on the play was DiMeo.

In the bottom of the third, Rush got onboard by hitting a double to right-center and was brought home by a single up the middle by DiMeo. Later in the inning, Walker singled to center field and brought home a run to make the score 4-0.

Saint Peter's (0-8) scored its only run off a home run in the fourth inning by Brandi Feeney.

In the bottom of the fourth, Drexel took command of the game by pulling away and scoring eight runs. Rush got it all started by hitting a two-run home run, scoring Taylor Kent. The Dragons then put two more on the scoreboard with back-to-back RBI singles by Schable and Walker. Swanson pinch-hit for Kent and reached on a fielding error, scoring Schable. Garcia then brought home two runs on a single. Clinton capped the Dragons' scoring with an RBI single to right field. The Dragons finished the inning with a 12-1 lead.

Conroy took the Peacocks down in order to finish the top of the fifth. The game ended due to the eight-run mercy rule.

WHAT'S NEXT
Due to the inclement weather on Friday, the Pirate Invitational schedule got shifted. Instead of the Dragons traveling to play Hampton tomorrow, they will stay in Norfolk, Va. and play Norfolk State in a doubleheader. The first game begins at noon with the second game following.