NORMAL, ILL. - The Drake University softball team swept a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader against Illinois State, Thursday, winning game one, 8-6, and taking game two, 5-1, in eight innings.

Facing a 1-0 setback in game two, sophomore Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz.) crushed a home run to left to tie the game. The Bulldogs tallied four runs in the eighth frame, including two on a single up the middle by freshman Macie Silliman (Winterset, Iowa), to take a 5-1 victory.

Junior Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho) earned a save and a win on the afternoon. DeLong relieved Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn.) in the opener with one out in the seventh and faced four batters before ending the game on a fly ball to centerfield. The save was DeLong's first of the season and first since earning a save against Creighton one year ago today (4-15-09).

DeLong started game two and threw all eight innings. She allowed one run on four hits while striking out 10 to move her record to 13-6 overall.

The Drake offense managed 14 hits on the afternoon, including three home runs. Freshman Lindsey Vande Wall (Prairie City, Iowa) connected on her eighth home run of the season to give Drake a 5-2 lead in the fourth inning of game one. Senior Bridget Shields (Iowa City, Iowa) hit her second homer of the season; a two-run shot in the fifth that put Drake ahead, 7-2. Craddock's shot was her second of the year.

Senior Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa) scored four runs on the afternoon, including three in the opener. She joined Shields and Vande Wall with two RBI in game one. Silliman led the Drake offense with four hits.

The win put Drake at 26-11 overall, including 7-4 in the Valley.

The Bulldogs host Missouri State in a three-game MVC series this weekend. The first pitch of a Saturday doubleheader is scheduled for noon.