LAS VEGAS, NEV. - Sophomore Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene) registered nine strikeouts helping Drake (9-4) posted a 3-2 victory over Loyola Marymount (8-9) on Friday (Feb. 27) at the Eller Media Tournament.

The win was the second of the day for the Bulldogs, who downed Florida Atlantic, 2-1, in eight innings earlier in the day.

Junior Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) got Drake started in the bottom of the first inning working a walk before swiping second base. Freshman Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic) came up with a clutch two-out single down the line in right to plate Leon and provide the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.

Drake extended the advantage to 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth as junior Kelsey Kahler (North Liberty, Iowa/Clear Creek-Amana) opened the frame with a single up the middle.  She moved to second on a wild pitch before Leon pushed her to third with a single to center field.  Kahler then came across on a passed ball.

Loyola Marymount cost itself a scoring opportunity in the third inning as a two-out single from Kirsten Slouber was nullified due to her number being improperly entered into the official line-up card prior to the game.  

The ruling proved instrumental, as DeLong didn't allow a hit in the contest until a one-out double from Sam Fischer in the top of the sixth.  Slouber had walked ahead of the base knock and advanced to third to place a pair of runners in scoring position.  Darcy Pagnini plated Slouber to cut the deficit to 2-1.  A single by Chelsie Tysdal scored Fischer with the equalizer.  DeLong worked out of the jam to set up the Bulldogs scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the frame.

Craddock led off the sixth with a single and moved to second off a wild pitch. Sophomore Erin Mollohan (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) sacrificed Craddock to third before sophomore Molly McClelland (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) sliced a 3-2 Corie Goodman offering into right to score what proved to be the game-winner.

DeLong retired the Lions in order in the top of the seventh to improve her record to 3-2.  Goodman fell to 5-6 overall, while allowing three runs on six hits.

Craddock paced Drake with two hits, while Leon, sophomore Erin Bly (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East), McClelland and Kahler each recorded a base hit.  

The Bulldogs close out their stay in Nevada on Saturday (Feb. 28) as Drake battles Wright State and UNLV at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., respectively.