Dragons Sweep Hartford in Doubleheader

Wednesday, March 30

Philadelphia, Pa.

1 p.m.

Drexel University

12-7

Hartford

11-9

Hartford

Drexel

3/30/2022 7:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PHILADELPHIA – The Drexel softball team defeated the Hartford Hawks in both games of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. Drexel won the first game, 11-7, and took the second game, 12-4. In their first games at the Drexel Softball Field this year, the Dragons (13-7) hit a walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning in the first game and scored 12 runs in the second game to mercy rule the Hawks (11-10).

GAME ONE
Lindsay Nelson earned the start in the first game of the doubleheader. The junior went six innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and fanning three batters. Jessica Schable (1-2) entered the game in relief and went three innings, holding Hartford to two runs on two hits.

The Dragons found all its offense in the top four lineup spots. Jackie Masone went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, Kristi DiMeo finished game one going 3-for-4 with five RBIs and four runs scored and Ashley Errico finished 2-for-5 with five RBIs and a run scored. Sarah Clinton went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Drexel entered the seventh inning down two runs. With two outs, DiMeo hit the fourth home run of the season and second of the game to tie the game at six.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Drexel jumped out to a quick start. DiMeo hit a two-run home run to left field at the bottom of the first. Scoring on the play was Masone.

Drexel flipped the lineup over in the third inning, and the one through five hitters got to work once more. Clinton singled up the middle and stole second. Masone grounded out to the right side and moved Clinton to third. DiMeo then singled through the left side and scored the Dragon right fielder. Errico then followed the single with a double to the right field fence. DiMeo swung around from first to score the Dragons' fourth run of the game.

Hartford scored four runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game at four. The Hawks took the lead in the top of the sixth after a double to left field scored a run. Hartford tacked on an insurance run in the seventh to expand the lead, 6-4.

The Dragons were down to their final out in the seventh inning. Masone reached on an infield single, setting up for one of the biggest at bats of the year for DiMeo. The graduate student did not let the opportunity go by; she lifted a ball over the left field fence to force extra innings.

The game fell silent until the ninth. Haverford scored its ghost runner with a single to right field. But that was all the Hawks could produce, and the Dragons had a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth. Angelina Sanchez moved Lana Mooney, the ghost runner for Drexel, to third with a sacrifice bunt. Clinton then doubled to right field and scored Mooney, tying the game at seven. The Dragons then drew two-straight walks to load the bases for Errico. With two outs, Errico hit a grand slam to left field and ended the game for Drexel.
GAME TWO
Brooklyn Daly (6-2) started game two and went five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. Daly also struck eight batters out.

Clinton went 2-for-4 in game two with four RBIs and one run scored. The senior's first hit was a home run, the first of the year. In her second at bat, Clinton singled to right field. The single to right field was her 100th career hit as a Dragon.

Masone finished game two, 4-for-4, with two RBIs and one run scored.

The bottom of the lineup had their chance to shine in game two. The seven through nine hitters all went 2-for-3. Megan Trivelpiece, who hit seventh, had two RBIs and two runs scored. Sanchez did as well.

HOW IT HAPPENED
In game two, Hartford was the first to strike. The Hawks grabbed a run in the first inning with a single to right field.

In the second inning, the Drexel bats woke up. Trivelpiece hit the first home run of her season and scored Ameryn Humble to take the lead for Drexel. The Dragons then received back-to-back home runs by Clinton and Masone to push the Drexel lead to 6-1. Clinton's home run scored three runs, while Masone's was a solo shot.

Hartford scored two runs in the third inning to draw closer to Drexel, but two runs were all they could get as its portion of the frame ended with Drexel in the lead, 6-4.

The Dragons scored an insurance run in the third after Clinton hit a single to right field that fell right between the right fielder and second basemen.

In the bottom of the fourth, Drexel posted five runs. Mia Garza checked in with a two-run home run to right center. Errico scored on the play. Sanchez then singled to right center and scored both Trivelpiece and Humble. Lastly, Masone hit an infield single to third and scored Sanchez to put the Dragon lead to eight, 12-4.

Daly retired the Hawks to apply the mercy rule and finish the game in the top of the fifth.

WHAT'S NEXT
Drexel hosts the Towson Tigers in a weekend series beginning on Saturday, April 2. The Dragons and Tigers will play a single game on Saturday at noon and will play a doubleheader on Sunday, starting at noon.