Drake Swept By Northern Iowa

DES MOINES, IOWA ? With a third-place regular-season Missouri Valley Conference finish on the line, the Drake softball team was swept by Northern Iowa, 2-1, in eight innings, in the first game and, 9-1, in the second game Saturday.

The Bulldogs move to 29-22, with a 12-10 conference mark, and secure a fourth-place finish with one league game remaining. Illinois State is in fifth place with an 11-11 MVC record and Drake holds the tie-breaker with the Redbirds, having won two-of-three earlier in the season.

In the first game Drake held a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning before a home run by Northern Iowa pitcher Jen Larsen tied the game at 1-1.

Drake scored in the bottom of the first when sophomore Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene) hit a two-out single through the left side, scoring freshman Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz./Salpionte Catholic).

The Panthers scored the winning run in the eighth inning coming on one hit and one Drake error.

The Bulldogs collected six hits in the first game, led by Craddock and sophomore Molly McClelland (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley ) who had two hits apiece.

DeLong threw a five-hit complete game, striking out eight and allowing one earned run in the contest.

In the second game of the twinbill, Northern Iowa scored runs in the first, second, third and fifth innings to take a 5-0 lead.

Drake scored its lone run in the bottom of the fifth when sophomore Erin Bly (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) singled home Kahler. The Panthers tallied four more runs in the sixth.

The Bulldogs had seven hits in the game, including three from sophomore Erin Mollohan (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew).

Sophomore pitcher Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska) suffered the loss, allowing seven hits and four runs over 2.1 innings.

Drake will face Northern Iowa Sunday (May 3) in its home finale.

The Bulldogs then travel to East Peoria, Ill., May 7-9 where they will seek to defend their State Farm MVC Softball Tournament. The tournament will be hosted by Bradley and all games will be played at the EastSide Centre.