The Triangle

Issue date: 3/11/11 Section: Sports

Tara Giancaspro The Triangle The Drexel softball team has completed the first three of their four early season tournaments. They will head down to Baltimore, Md., March 11-13 for the University of Maryland-Baltimore County Tournament.

The Drexel softball team (3-7) traveled to Georgia March 4-6 expecting to play six games, bring their record back to the .500 mark, and come back to Philadelphia with a new outlook on the season. But sometimes the fairy tales don't end with "And they lived happily ever after." Four of the six games were canceled due to inclement weather, so the Dragons ultimately walked away with one win and not much to build off of.

Junior pitcher Hillary Allen kicked off the weekend's festivities against Winthrop, and she went the distance in an extra innings thriller.

Winthrop got on the board in the top half of the first inning on a pair of singles and a fielding error by senior Katy Harrington to make it 1-0. Harrington redeemed herself at the bottom of the second inning with an RBI ground out to bring home junior Paige Collings and even the score at 1-1.

In the third inning, the Dragons played some small ball to gain their first lead of the game. Senior Kelly Downes drew a lead-off walk and freshman Shelby Taylor successfully bunted to advance the runner. With Downs on second, senior Laura Stagliano hit a RBI single to give Drexel their first lead of the game. Stagliano and Downs also showcased their defense in the next inning to protect the lead. With a man on, Winthrop's Ashleigh Jackson drilled a double to center field, but Stagliano was there to field the ball and make a quick throw, which was cut down at second base by Downs. Downs then gunned a throw to Collings to get the out at the plate, ending Wintrop's scoring chance.

Drexel's lead lasted until the fifth inning when utility player Megan Chapman singled and stole a base to set up Taylor Write, who then singled and drove in the tying run to force the game into extra innings.

In extra innings, Winthrop's Jenna Harbin hit an RBI single to take the 3-2 lead. The Dragons would have to answer in their half of the inning to keep the game alive. With Downes starting the inning on second base due to the international tiebreak rule, Stagliano and Reading both drew walks to load the bases. Collings then drew a third walk to force home the tying run. Allen came to the plate with the bases loaded and the winning run only 60 feet away. She came through, and gave herself a win, by hitting an RBI single to bring in the winning run.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools