EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. ? Drake scored one run in the first inning and one in the fourth inning to defeat SIU-Edwardsville, 2-1, in game two of a doubleheader Thursday. SIU-Edwardsville took game one 4-2.

In the first inning junior Bridget Shields (Iowa City, Iowa/West) singled to left field and advanced to second and third on illegal pitches. Sophomore Erin Bly (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) then singled to right field, scoring Shields.

SIU-Edwardsville answered with one run in the bottom of the first.

Freshman Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic) started the fourth inning with a double to left center. Then sophomore Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene) connected for an RBI single to center field.

The Cougars threatened in the sixth inning with runners on second and third but DeLong, who collected the win for the Bulldogs, struck out Lindsey Liermann for the final out of the inning.

Drake was led by DeLong who was 3-for-3 from the plate and struck out six and allowed five hits in seven innings from the mound.

In game one SIU-Edwardsville's Lauren Zembruski hit a one-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Cougars past Drake 4-2.

Drake led 2-1 through five innings before SIU-Edwardsville tied the score at two runs apiece in the bottom of the sixth.

The Bulldogs were led by freshman Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) with two hits and one RBI. Collecting one hit each for Drake were DeLong and sophomore Molly McClelland (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) and juniors Kelsey Kahler (North Liberty, Iowa/Clear Creek-Amana) and Carrie Hatfield (Des Moines, Iowa/East).

Sophomore Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska) moved to 8-5 with the loss. She went six innings, allowing four hits and striking out four.

Drake scored one in the bottom of the second when Hatfield singled through the right side, scoring Mollohan who had reached on a fielder's choice.

The Bulldogs added another run in the fifth with a single by Kahler and a sacrifice by Hatfield. Leon then singled through the right side, scoring Kahler from second.

SIU-Edwardsville answered with runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth to tie the game at two apiece.

The Cougars retired three-consecutive Drake batters in the top of the seventh before scoring two in the bottom half of the inning for the victory. After Dordel walked the first SIU-Edwardsville batter of the inning, junior Mandy Osborn (Blair, Neb./Blair) came in relief. Osborn retired the next batter before Zembruski connected for a home run in right field.

Drake (15-12, 1-2 MVC) opens the conference season hosting Evansville in a doubleheader Saturday (March 21) and a single-game Sunday (March 22). Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m. each day.