DES MOINES, IOWA - Junior Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) hit two home runs as the Drake softball team came back from a 6-0 deficit to top Illinois State 7-6 in a Missouri Valley Conference game Saturday.

It was the first time since the MVC began three-game series play in 2001 that the Bulldogs have took two-of-three from the Redbirds. The two teams split Friday (April 10) with Drake taking game one, 1-0, in nine innings and Illinois State winning game two, 3-2.

Sophomore Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene) collected her second complete-game win in as many days, improving to 14-6 on the season.

Leon led the Bulldogs with two hits, two runs scored and four RBI.  Sophomore Molly McClelland (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) also had two hits with as well as two RBI and freshman Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic) scored two runs.

Illinois State scored six runs with two outs in the top of the second led by an Amber Smith grand slam and an Abby Olson home run.

Drake answered with five runs in the bottom of the third when Leon hit a three-run home run, scoring junior Kelsey Kahler (North Liberty, Iowa/Clear Creek-Amana), who had singled, and junior Mandy Osborn (Blair, Neb./Blair), who started the inning with a walk.

After a pitching change Craddock doubled to center field and scored when DeLong's fly ball was dropped by the shortstop.  McClelland then tripled down the right field line, scoring DeLong and bringing the Bulldogs within one run at 6-5.

Leon, who moved into fourth place on the Drake career home run list with 20, hit her second home run in the fourth inning to tie the game at 6-6.

Craddock started the fifth inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sophomore Erin Bly (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) single to third base. After DeLong sacrificed Craddock and Bly to third and second, respectively, McClelland singled to left center, scoring Craddock for the go-ahead run.

Illinois State had runners on second and third in the seventh with one out before DeLong struck out Jessie Buker and forced Michelle Henderson to pop up to centerfield to secure the 7-6 victory.

Drake improved to 23-15 with an 8-3 MVC mark, while Illinois State falls to 18-18 and 6-7 in the MVC. The Bulldogs travel to league-leading Creighton Wednesday (April 15) for a doubleheader at 3 p.m.