Masone Hits Walk-Off Double in Extra Innings; Dragons Down UMass Lowell and Hampton

Saturday, March 5

Hampton, Va.

10 a.m.

Drexel University

3-5

UMASS Lowell

6-5

Drexel

UMass Lowell

Photo by: Feng Chen

Masone Hits Walk-Off Double in Extra Innings; Dragons Down UMass Lowell and Hampton

3/5/2022 6:15:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HAMPTON, Va. – The Drexel softball team swept the competition on day two of the Pirate Invitational, hosted by Hampton. In game one, the Dragons faced the Umass Lowell Riverhawks and then went up against the hosts in game two. Drexel won the first game against the Riverhawks, 6-3, and then defeated the Pirates in extra innings, 6-5.

GAME ONE
Meghan Conroy started in the circle for the Dragons in the first part of the doubleheader. The senior tossed 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. Lindsay Nelson pitched 3.2 innings in relief and allowed only one hit through 12 batters. Nelson earned the win to push her record to 2-2.

Sarah Clinton went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs. Through eight starts, Clinton is hitting .385 with six runs scored.

Megan Trivelpiece put together another quality start for the Dragons. The Sugarloaf, Pa. native went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dragons twice in the first inning. Drexel earned its first run three batters into the game. After a pair of singles placed runners on first and third, Jackie Masone, who hit the second single, swiped second. Kristi DiMeo put the ball in play to the right side to bring home Clinton from third and push Masone to third. The next batter, Ashley Errico, hit a fly down the right field line. The ball was deep enough to score Masone and extend Drexel's lead to 2-0.

Umass Lowell hit a solo home run down the left field line to cut the Dragon lead to one in the bottom of the first.

Drexel returned to the plate in the top of the second and put up another pair of runs. With runners on second and third, the Dragons found themselves similar to the first inning. Trivelpiece singled to center field, scored one run, and pushed another runner to third. Grace Abbonizio attempted a squeeze bunt, but instead, the runner stayed at third and Abbonizio beat out the throw to load the bases for Clinton. Clinton drew a walk, and the Dragons scored their fourth run.

Both offenses fell silent until the Riverhawks gained some ground in the bottom of the third frame. Umass Lowell used a pair of singles to cut the Dragon lead to just one, 4-3.

Drexel gained the insurance runs it needed in the top of the seventh inning. Clinton scored on a wild pitch, and Masone scored on a sacrifice fly to left field.

GAME TWO
Jessica Schable started for the Dragons in game two. The junior went five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. Brooklyn Daly (2-2) entered the game in relief, pitching three innings and only allowing one earned run.

Despite playing on Hampton's home dirt, Drexel was designated as the home team in the two teams' third matchup of the weekend.

Masone was the hero for the Dragons in game two. The freshman went 2-for-4 with a run. The East Windsor, N.J. native also hit an RBI double in the eighth inning that scored the game-winning run.

All six of Drexel's Runs came in the form of RBIs and off six different bats. Also, eight of the nine starters either scored a run or were responsible for an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Hampton, fresh off a loss to UMass Lowell in extra innings thirty minutes before its game against Drexel, swung the bats well in the first inning. The Pirates took advantage of a walk and a single to put up two runs. Janae Lyles hit a sacrifice fly to left field, and Kiaya Jeusi hit an RBI single down the right field line.

In the bottom of the frame, Drexel quickly turned the tide. Clinton scored on a DiMeo single to right field. With runners on first and third, DiMeo took second with ease. Errico walked to load the bases for Ameryn Humble. Humble pulled the ball into right field for an RBI single to score Masone. Savaanah Garcia hit a ball to left-center in the next at-bat, deep enough to score DiMeo from third. Kylee Guerrera, who was in the flex for Drexel, hit an infield single and scored Errico. Drexel owned a 4-2 lead over the Pirates at the end of the first.

The Hampton offense fell relatively quiet until the third inning. The Pirates hit a solo home run to pull within one of the Dragons. Hampton then tied the game up in the top of the sixth, scoring on a wild pitch.

In extra's, Hampton took advantage of the runner-on-second rule. The runner advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a single hit through the left side. As Drexel retired the next few batters to get out of the inning, that was all Hampton could get.

The Dragons used a sacrifice bunt to push Alana Backstrom to third. Running on contact, Backstrom beat the throw at the plate after Brianna Alamillo hit the ball to second base. With the game tied. Hampton tried to turn a double play, but Clinton was too quick down the line. With a runner on first with two outs. The CAA Rookie of the Week, Masone, stepped up to the plate. The freshman crushed a pitch to deep centerfield. Clinton rounded the bases and beat the throw at home to win the game for Drexel in extra innings.

WHAT'S NEXT
Drexel wraps up the Pirate Invitational on Sunday, March 6, when it travels to Norfolk State to take on the Spartans in a single game. First pitch is scheduled for noon.