STORY BY EMILY LAMBIE
The Women’s Softball team competed against Evansville this weekend, sweeping the Purple Aces in three games at Drake’s Ron Buel Field.
They completed the sweep with an 8-0 win in five innings on Sunday.
Senior Rebekah Schmidt was controlled the game on the mound for the Bulldogs, only walking two players while striking out seven others and allowing just one hit. It was Schmidt’s second one-hitter of the season.
Schmidt now has 5-7 record in 2015 with a 3.24 earned run average and 72 strikeouts. This was also her 42nd career win, now eighth all-time in wins for Drake.
She received MVC Pitcher of the week on February 9 for her efforts.
Schmidt is not only succeeding in the circle — she’s also supporting the offense. She has a team leading batting average of .356 along with two home runs and 13 runs batted in.
Schmidt and Nicole Newman are the main reasons why Drake is now number one in the Missouri Valley Conference in team ERA (3.10), strikeouts (155) and opposing team batting average (.232).
Along with Schmidt’s impressive performance, senior Laura Brewer and sophomores Kaitlyn Finneran and Ashlie Chambers each contributed a home run. Finneran went on to finish two for two at the plate with a double and two RBIs, two runs and a walk.
The game was sealed the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly from freshman Kailee Smith that scored sophomore Maddie Hooyman, followed by an RBI single from freshman Kelsey Wright to score Finneran.
After Tuesday’s game was cancelled due to weather the Bulldogs next competition is against Wichita State on March 28-29 for a three game series.
