Nelson Pitches Gem; Dragons Split Doubleheader With Hampton

Friday, March 4

Hampton, VA

10 a.m.

Drexel University

1-5

Hampton

9-6

Drexel

Hampton University

Nelson Pitches Gem; Dragons Split Doubleheader With Hampton

3/4/2022 2:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HAMPTON, Va. – Lindsay Nelson turned in the best start of her career as Drexel split a doubleheader against Hampton to open the Pirate Invitational on Friday. The Dragons (2-5) dropped the first game against the Pirates (9-7), 3-2. Drexel bounced back in the second game and defeated Hampton 8-1 in game two.

GAME ONE
Brooklyn Daly started in the circle for Drexel and went six and a third. The graduate student fanned four batters and also forced Hampton to leave seven runners on base.

Kristi DiMeo turned in a 1-for-2 game with a walk. DiMeo was responsible for one of Drexel's runs after hitting a triple in the first inning.

Ashley Errico brought in Drexel's second run in her first at-bat. The sophomore went 1-for-2 and also drew a walk.

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first inning, Sarah Clinton beat out a throw from the infield to reach base safely. After Jackie Masone advanced Clinton to second, DiMeo hit a triple to center field and pushed across the first run for Drexel. Immediately after the triple, Errico hit an infield single that plated DiMeo and gave Drexel an early 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Hampton used a walk and a two-run home run to tie the game.

The game turned into a defensive battle as both teams could not crack the runs column. With runners on second and third, the Pirates put the bat on the ball and pushed the go-ahead run across the plate to top the Dragons, 3-2.

GAME TWO
Nelson (1-2) earned the start in game two and pitched the best game of her career. The junior tossed a complete game, allowing only one run on three hits. Nelson struck five Pirates out and carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the sixth. The complete game is Nelson's second in her career. She went the distance in game one of the doubleheader against Saint Joseph's in the 202-21 season.

The Dragons tallied 15 hits in their dominant performance in game two. Eight of nine starters earned at least one hit, and of those eight, six had a multi-hit game.

DiMeo went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dragons scored two runs in the first inning on a line drive off DiMeo's bat. Scoring on the play was Jackie Masone and Clinton.

In the top of the fourth, Megan Trivelpiece checked in with her first hit of the season. The graduate student drove the ball into right field. On a fielding error by the right fielder, Kylee Guerrera scored.

Drexel poured on five runs in the fifth frame and batted through the lineup. Drexel earned its first run via an RBI single by Masone. Clinton scored on a throwing error by the right fielder, and Masone moved into third on the play. Masone scored on a wild pitch in the next at-bat. Savaanah Garcia, who earned her first start behind the plate, singled to left field, scoring Errico. A batter later, Lily Meuninck had an identical at-bat. The designated player singled up the middle and scored Garcia, pushing the score to 8-0 Drexel.

Hampton finally got to Nelson in the bottom of the sixth. The Pirates recorded their first hit of the game and picked up their first and only run of the game.

UP NEXT
Drexel returns to the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium on Saturday for another doubleheader. The Dragons will open the day with a game against UMass Lowell at 10 a.m. and wrap up day two of the Pirate Invitational against Hampton at noon.