Written by Kate Gluckman
Date: Tuesday, April 10, 2001

DRAKE BREAKS SOFTBALL'S CAREER HOME RUNS RECORD

MEDFORD -- Tufts University sophomore catcher Lis Drake (Chelmsford, MA/ Chelmsford) broke the softball team's record for career home runs when she hit her third home run of the season and the 10th of her career.

The previous record was held by Jen O'Malley who played from 1995 to 1998 and hit nine career home runs. After a sensational freshman year where she broke the record for most home runs in a season (7), Drake hit three home runs in the first three games of the 2001 season. Her record-breaking smash came during Tufts' game against the College of St. Catherine on March 19.

Drake ripped her first one out of the park against Carleton College on March 18 during the Sun West Softball Tournament in Orange, California. Her second one came later in the day against the University of La Verne. Tufts won both games, 4-0 and 5-4, respectively. The following day Drake hit the record-breaking blow over the fence against the College of St. Catherine as Tufts earned their third victory with a 3-2 win.

Drake continued her slam-fest with her fourth home run in the second inning of a loss to Williams on March 20. She added her fifth of the season and 12th of her career at Wheaton College on April 4, and that's where she stands. In 18 games this season, she's hitting .326 with four doubles and 13 rbis in addition to her five bombs. Tufts, looking to make its fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, stands at 10-7-1 overall and 2-0 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) East Division.

Drake was a Third Team All-American for head coach Kris Talon last year when the Jumbos advanced to the NCAA Division III College World Series. She finished with a team-high .374 batting average, 10 doubles, seven home runs and 29 runs batted in.

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