EVANSTON, ILL. - A two-out, two-run home run by Michelle Neubauer in the bottom of the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie lifting Western Illinois to a 3-1 victory over Drake in NCAA Tournament softball action on Saturday (May 17) at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

The game-winning hit was the first homer of the season for Neubauer, who extended the Westerwinds' season at 15-32, while concluding Drake's campaign at 29-26.

Freshman pitcher Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska) was rolling in the sixth retiring the first two batters on groundouts before a walk to Julie DePolo opened the door for Neubauer's heroics.

Julie DePolo gave the Westerwinds a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second connecting on a 2-1 Dordel offering for her fourth home run of the season over the wall in left.

The Bulldogs responded with a salvo of their own in the top of the third inning as sophomore Kelsey Kahler (North Liberty, Iowa/Clear Creek Amana) dropped down a perfect bunt to begin the frame. She moved into scoring position swiping second base before sophomore Carrie Hatfield (Des Moines, Iowa/East) advanced her to third on a sacrifice bunt. Coming through with a two-out single up the middle to square the contest at one was senior Kristin Birocci (Des Moines, Iowa/Lincoln).

The game remained tied over the next two frames before Western Illinois started a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back singles. With runners on first and second, Samantha Valentine tagged a 0-1 Dordel pitch for what off the bat looked destined for a bases clearing double. Birocci though refused to give up on the ball making a sprawling diving catch going to her left to thwart the rally.

Birocci and fellow senior Marilyn Buss (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) each recorded a base hit in their final game donning the Drake uniform.

Dordel struck out three, while suffering the loss to fall to 19-12 in going the distance for the Bulldogs. Lori Pankratz notched the victory for Western Illinois and upped her ledger to 9-13.