Men’s cross-country repeats as Oz Memorial champ
For the second-straight year, Drake returns home from Falcon Heights, Minn., with the Oz Memorial title. The Bulldogs had three top-10 finishes and had 37 points to win the meet. The second-place squad, Minnesota State Mankato, had 76 points. Sophomores Brogan Austin and Omet Kak led Drake by finishing in fourth and seventh, respectively.
“Our guys got out there and really competed well in the warm conditions,” head coach Dan Hostager said in a Drake athletics press release. “It is very early in the competitive season as we are only two races in, so no one is in race shape just yet, but training is going well.”
The women’s cross-country squad finished in fifth place at the same meet. Sophomore Amanda Marwitz and freshmen Krista Maguire and Melissa Parks finished in 52nd, 53rd and 54th, respectively. Drake finished with 152 points. Minnesota won the title with 15 points.
Askelson leads Bulldogs at Redbird Invitational
After two rounds of play in Normal, Ill., Drake sits in 12th place out of 17 teams at the Redbird Invitational. Freshman Kimmy Askelson shot a 78-73=151 at the par-71, 6,047-yard D.A. Weibring Golf Club. Askelson was tied for ninth place heading into the final round of play yesterday.
“We struggled a little out there today with our game,” head coach Leanne Smith said in a Drake athletics press release. “We found some trouble and our short games weren’t quite where they needed to be. I’m really proud of Kimmy’s (Askelson) effort today, what a great start for her first collegiate tournament. I’m excited to see how she’ll end up tomorrow and I expect our upperclassmen to get some revenge on a few holes out there.”
Junior Chelsey Falk and senior Christy Wittmer were tied for 47th and 50th, respectively, after Saturday’s two rounds.
Drake softball opens up fall season against Grand View
With plenty of new faces after losing some talented seniors last season, the Bulldogs got a glance at some new players who may be major contributors in the upcoming season.
The biggest shoes to fill will be in the pitching circle. Drake lost arguably the two best pitchers in school history at the end of last spring in Jenna DeLong and Brynne Dordel. It will be up to sophomore Jordan Gronewold to carry the bulk of the pitching staff.
Gronewold held Grand View scoreless for four innings at Ron Buel Field last Saturday. Freshman Rebekah Schmidt pitched as well, but her biggest contribution came from a third-inning grand slam. Sophomore Amy Pierce also crushed a grand slam.
“Our bats were solid and our pitchers threw well,” head coach Rich Calvert said in a Drake athletics press release.
Gronewold and freshman catcher Hayley Nybo, who also will have a large void to fill with the departure of alumna Erin Mollohan, added first inning RBIs.
