University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Softball Falls to Drake 2-1 in Softball Classic
2/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Drake's first three batters of the game reached to load the bases, but senior Piper Marten pitched her way out of the jam. She got the force out at home on Katie Wappler's comeback to the mound. She struck out Emily Hajduk and got Lauren Smith to pop out to third in foul territory.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases again in the third inning with nobody out and Marten got the best of Wappler again. Wappler flied out to centerfielder Stephanie Sward. Sward then threw out Lindsay Larry who was attempting to score from third base. Marten struck out Hajduk for the second time in the game to end the inning.
Drake finally broke through in the fourth inning. Jamie Desjarlais reached on a fielder's choice and then stole second. Desjarlais stole third and scored as the throw deflected into left field.
Minnesota finally got to Katie Shimon in the sixth inning. Megan Higginbotham extended her hitting streak to five games with a liner to left field. After Hailee Nanchy laid down the sacrifice bunt, Valerie Alston cut one down the left field line to score Higginbotham from second.
Drake got the run back in the seventh inning. Larry reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a stolen base. Marten's wild pitch moved her to third and she scored the go-ahead run on a Jenna Wilken groundout.
In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, Sward earned her second single of the night, but Higginbotham grounded out to second to end the game.
Marten dropped to 0-3 on the season, but the Golden Gophers have scored just two runs in her three starts. She struck out six in seven innings of work.
Shimon earned the complete-game victory for Drake. She allowed one run on six hits with four strikeouts.
