DES MOINES, IOWA ? Home runs by seniors Susan Slycord (West Des Moines, Iowa) and Kristin Birocci (Des Moines, Iowa) powered the Drake softball team to an 8-2 romp past Missouri State in the second game of a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader Saturday.
The Bears took the first game, 5-3, improving their overall record to 15-9 and 4-4 in the MVC while the Bulldogs moved to 13-14 overall and 4-3 in league play.
Drake and Missouri State complete their three game conference series with a single game at noon on Sunday.
Slycord's home run came on the first pitch of the inning for the Bulldogs to even the score at 1-1 in the first inning. Freshman Erin Mollohan (Tinley Park, Ill) doubled home Birocci to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 advantage to close out the inning
The Bulldogs then posted three-run frames in the fourth and fifth innings to take the final 8-2 lead.
Senior Marilyn Buss (West Des Moines, Iowa) drove in the deciding run on a single hit to the pitcher, scoring sophomore Kelsey Kahler (North Liberty, Iowa). Buss and Slycord scored on a fielding error by Missouri State left fielder Brooke Kempker to complete the three-run fourth inning.
Buss drove in Slycord in the fifth inning before Birocci cleared the bases on a two-run home run to left-center.
Birocci went 3-3 from the plate with two RBI and two runs scored, while Buss went 3-4 with two RBI and two runs.
Freshman pitcher Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn.) earned her second decision of the day pitching in relief of starter Mandy Osborn by allowing only one hit and striking out five of 16 batters faced.
The Bulldogs out-hit the Bear, 7-5, but ultimately fell to Missouri State, 5-3, in the first game of the day.
Buss singled-home Carrie Hatfield (Des Moines, Iowa) to score the Bulldogs first run in the fifth inning. Buss then got caught in a run down to plate Slycord ending the frame down 4-2.
Drake got within two runs again in the sixth inning when Kahler scored on a wild pitch from Melissa Porche.
Slycord went 2-3 with a run scored while Birocci went 2-4 to lead the Bulldogs at the plate.
Dordel earned the loss while allowing only one earned run and striking out six Bears batters.
