Dragons Downed in Extras by Rutgers, 4-3

Sunday, March 20

Piscataway, N.J.

3:45 p.m.

Drexel University

8-6

Rutgers

21-10

Drexel

Rutgers

Photo by: Feng Chen

3/20/2022 7:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Drexel softball team fell to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at the Rutgers Softball Tournament in Piscataway, N.J. Rutgers scored the game-winning run in the ninth inning to give Drexel its sixth loss of the season.

Lindsay Nelson started in the circle for the Dragons and pitched six innings. The junior held Rutgers to two runs on six hits. Jessica Schable (0-1) entered the game in relief and pitched 2.2 innings, holding the Scarlet Knights to two runs on two hits.

Mia Garza went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in the third inning. It was the first round-tripper in her career.

Sarah Clinton also went 1-for-3 with an RBI. In the eighth inning, Clinton hit a sacrifice fly to score the ghost runner from third.

HOW IT HAPPENED
One of the nation's best defenses, Drexel flashed the leather early in Sunday's game. With a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the second, Grace Abbonizio covered 50 feet and made a diving catch in left-center to keep the Scarlet Knights at bay.

The Dragons grabbed a lead in the top of the third inning. Garza got a hold of a pitch to lead off the inning with a solo home run for the Dragons. At the end of their frame in the second, the Dragons held a 1-0 lead.

Rutgers tied the game in the bottom of the third with a single through the left side with two outs. Nelson retired the next batter to keep Rutgers from causing more damage. Rutgers manufactured its second run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Dragons tied the game back at two after Jackie Masone hit a double down the left field line. With the freshman in scoring position, Kristi DiMeo hit a chopper at the plate and moved Masone to third. With two outs, Rutgers tried to throw down to third to check on Masone, but the throw hit Masone's foot on the slide back and kicked out into foul territory in left field. Masone scored with ease and tied the game at two entering the bottom of the sixth.

The Scarlet Knights loaded the bases with two outs in Rutgers' portion of the sixth frame. Nelson pitched out of the jam by drawing a popout to shallow right field.

Rutgers got its first batter of the sevent inning on due to a single. When the Scarlet Knights tried to move her over with a sacrifice bunt, Drexel took advantage of a running miscue and threw out the runner, moving to third to turn a 3-4-6-5 double play.

In the eighth inning, Drexel pushed the ghost runner, Alana Backstrom, to third on a wild pitch, and Clinton scored the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to deep center field.

In Rutgers portion of the eighth inning, the Scarlet Knights moved the ghost runner to third. Rutgers hit a single up the middle with two outs to force a ninth inning.

The Dragons could not push across a run in the ninth inning and opened the door for Rutgers to take the game in the bottom of the ninth. Rutgers scored the game-winning run with a single to right field.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Dragons travel to Saint Joseph's to take on the Hawks in a single game on Wednesday, March 23. First pitch from the SJU Softball Field is slated for 3 p.m.