PHILADELPHIA, PA - The La Salle softball team (11-28) was swept by Drexel (17-25) in a non-conference doubleheader. The Dragons took the first game 4-0, led by the strong pitching of Ashlee Veilleux. La Salle tied game two in the top of the seventh before Drexel came back to win 3-2.
Game One
Drexel opened the scoring in the bottom of the second when Eva Noelsch hit a two-run home run over the fence in right centerfield. The Dragons added another run in the fifth when Veilleux's two-single drove in Lisa Williams to put Drexel up 3-0.
The Explorers struggled against Drexel hurler Veilleux, who took a no-hitter into the fifth inning. La Salle catcher Michelle Sullivan (Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) broke up the no-no with a leadoff single and was followed by a base knock by Carissa Segura (Santa Maria, CA/Ernest Righetti) to put runners on first and second. Segura was caught stealing before Kate Gulkis (Philadelphia, PA/St. Basil) walked. Veilleux then struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning. The Explorers threatened again in the sixth, putting runners on second and third with one out, but again failed to plate a run.
Drexel added another run in the sixth when Brianne Brown hit a one-out RBI single. Lea Corcoran (Grayslake, IL/Grayslake Community) hit a two-out triple in the top of the seventh for the Explorers' fourth hit, but Jen Street (Coatesville, PA/Bishop Shanahan) grounded back to the pitcher to end the game.
Laura Dezolt (Morrisville, PA/Conwell-Egan Catholic) took the loss and dropped to 8-10. In six innings, she allowed five hits, four runs and four walks, while striking out three. Veilleux earned the win, allowing four hits, no runs and two walks. She fanned eight Explorers as she improved to 7-8.
Game Two
Both teams took a while to get going, combining for just seven hits through five innings. Drexel threatened in the bottom of the fourth with runners on first and third and one out. Brown hit a fly ball to center that was caught by Teddi Hernandez (Hanford, CA/Hanford). Noelsch attempted to tag up and score, but Hernandez gunned her out at the plate in a close play to end the inning.
Kelli Curcio (Hatboro, PA/St. Basil) led off the sixth with a seeing-eye triple that got past Drexel rightfielder Veilleux. Two batters later, Sullivan brought her home with a single in the hole between first and second to give the Explorers the lead.
The lead would not hold up long, as the Dragons stormed back in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Veilleux singled and Amanda Hastings followed with a single of her own. The next batter, Sandi Wambold, drove an RBI single to right field to knot the score at 1-1. La Salle pitcher Segura then walked Molly Dacey to load the bases. Segura then worked a full count to Brown before walking her to force in the go-ahead run.
In the top of the seventh, Megan Berry (Rutherford, NJ/Paramus Catholic) worked a walk off starter Amanda Shattuck. Drexel then brought in Amanda Heyser to pitch. Street sacrificed Berry over to second. After a Hernandez popup, a wild pitch allowed Berry to reach third. Heyser uncorked another wild one to score Berry and tie the game.
Segura, making her first appearance on the mound since March 28, allowed eight hits, two run and two walks in six innings of work. She struck out two. Amanda Shattuck gave up four hits, two runs (one earned), and five walks, while striking out four.
With Corcoran on the mound for the Explorers in the seventh, Lisa Williams ripped a double down the leftfield line. After a failed sacrifice attempt, Williams advanced to third on a passed ball. Corcoran intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases. She worked a 2-2 count to Wambold before the first baseman hit a gapper to leftfield to drive in the winning run.
Despite blowing the save, Heyser (6-9) earned the win, while Corcoran (2-12) took the loss.
The Explorers return to action on Friday, April 28, when they visit Saint Joseph's at 3:00 p.m.
