CARBONDALE, ILL.  -- The Drake softball team opened its Missouri Valley Conference campaign, beating No. 19 ranked Southern Illinois, 3-0, in the first game of a doubleheader before the Salukis came back to win the second game, 2-1.

In the first game,  junior Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) slugged a two-run home run and Drake sophomore pitcher  Brynne Dordel">Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska) allowed just three hits, while striking out 10.

Drake grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning without the aid of a hit as  Leon received a  two-out walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored what proved to be the winning run on another wild pitch.

Leon hit her sixth home run of the season in the fifth inning, scoring junior Mandy Osborn (Blair, Neb.).

In the second game, the host Salukis rallied for two runs in the fifth inning to spoil the brilliant pitching of Drake sophomore Jenna DeLong  (Dalton Gardens, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene), who went the distance, scattering just two hits while striking out eight batters.

Southern Illinois scored an unearned run on the aid of an error.

Leon opened the game with a double to right centerfield and scored on a single by junior Bridget Shields (Iowa City, Iowa/West)

Drake, which stands 13-9 overall (1-1 MVC), will play a single game at Southern Illinois (16-4) Sunday at 12 p.m.