CEDAR FALLS, IOWA ? Ten innings and 25 runs proved to be more than enough for the Drake softball team to sweep a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader away from Northern Iowa Saturday. The Bulldogs took the first game, 10-1, and the second game, 15-7, both contests ended in five innings due to run rule.
Drake hit a combined eight home runs in the doubleheader. Seniors
Susan Slycord (West Des Moines, Iowa) led the way for the Bulldogs with three home runs, including two in the first game.
In the first game Drake came out swinging as senior
Jaci Faidley (Colfax, Iowa) hit her first of two home runs in the opening inning to put the Bulldogs on top 2-0 in the first inning.
Sophomore
Kelsey Kahler (North Liberty, Iowa) followed Faidley in kind in the second inning by hitting a two-run shot over the fence in left. Slycord added with a solo home run to center field to give the Bulldogs the 5-0 advantage after two.
Drake scored three more runs in the third inning before sophomore
Carrie Hatfield (Des Moines, Iowa) led off the fourth with a double and scored on Slycord's second home run of the day.
Along with Faidley, Slycord and Kahler senior
Kristin Birocci (Des Moines, Iowa) recorded two hits to help the Bulldogs cause.
Freshman pitcher
Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn.) threw 3.2 innings, while allowing only two hits and striking out five batters. Dordel improved to 11-5 on the campaign.
Birocci got things going in the second game homering to drive in senior
Marilyn Buss (West Des Moines, Iowa) in the first inning.
After giving up a three-run home run in the bottom of the first, Drake trailed going in to the second inning but not for long.
Birocci singled home Slycord and Hatfield before Faidley hit a three run home run to take a 7-3 lead in the second inning.
Freshman
Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho) singled-home sophomore
Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa) before Slycord hit a three-run home run in the third frame to give drake a 11-6 advantage.
Drake capped things off in the fifth inning when Buss singled-home Slycord before Biroci hit another two-run shot over the left-center wall. The Bulldogs scored another run when Kahler was walked with the bases loaded, scoring Faidley.
Birocci went 4-4 with six RBI and three runs scored to lead the Bulldogs at the plate in game two.
Drake out-hit the Panthers 26-9 on the day and committed no errors in the field.
Dordel earned the second win of the day pitching in relief of starter
Mandy Osborn (Omaha, Neb.).
Drake, which improved to 16-16 on the campaign, with a 7-4 MVC ledger, continues action against UNI with a 12 p.m. game Sunday.
