Drake Defeats Northern Iowa In Regular-Season Finale

DES MOINES, IOWA -- Sophomore pitcher Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene) went the distance allowing five hits and striking out a career-high 14 batters as the Drake softball team closed out the regular season defeating Northern Iowa, 2-1, in 10 innings Sunday.

Junior Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) singled to center field and stole second with one out in the 10th inning. After Bridget Shields (Iowa City, Iowa/West) hit a line drive to left field for the second out, freshman Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic) singled to center field, scoring Leon for the game-winning run.

Sophomore Erin Mollohan (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) led Drake at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one run scored.

Northern Iowa scored in the first inning for a 1-0, lead that would hold until the bottom of the seventh.

Drake tied the score, 1-1, in the seventh when junior Kelsey Kahler (North Liberty, Iowa/Clear Creek-Amana) singled to left center, scoring Mollohan who reached base on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning.

The Bulldogs, who stand at 30-22 (13-10 MVC) travel to the State Farm MVC tournament May 7-9. The tournament will be hosted by Bradley and held at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria, Ill.

Drake, the No. 4 seed, will play Thursday (May 7) at 4 p.m. against the winner of a first-round game between No. 5 Illinois State and No. 8 Indiana State.

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