DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake University softball team tallied 24 hits, including seven home runs in a doubleheader sweep over Missouri Valley Conference foe Evansville Saturday at Ron Buel Field. The Bulldogs won a 6-5 decision in the opener before downing the Purple Aces 10-2 in five innings to close the afternoon. Drake improved to 20-12 overall and extended its program-best MVC start to 7-0.

Freshman Jordan Gronewold (Carlisle, Iowa) had perhaps her best day as a Bulldog, going 5-for-6 with two home runs and two doubles, scoring three runs and driving in three on the afternoon. Gronewold hit .833 on the day and put together a two-game slugging percentage of 2.167. Both homers came in game one and both were pivotal to Drake's 6-5 victory.

Senior catcher Erin Mollohan (Tinley Park, Ill.) doubled her season home run total with three on the day, including two in the second game. Her third-inning, three-run shot in game two erased a 2-1 Evansville lead and opened the offensive floodgates for the Bulldogs. Mollohan added three runs and five RBI on the day.

Senior Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho) and junior Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz.) also homered for Drake. In addition, DeLong earned the game-one win in the circle after allowing three earned runs on four hits in seven innings of work. The senior struck out seven to move her career total to 650; 20 strikeouts shy of Laurie Bowden's (1990-93) all-time Drake record of 670. DeLong's record stands at 11-4 overall.

Senior Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn.) was excellent in her game-two start, tossing five innings and allowing just two runs on two hits while striking out six for her eighth win of the season. Her career strikeout total stands at 643, just 27 whiffs away from Bowden.

The Bulldogs hit .436 as a team compared to .143 for Evansville. Drake's 10 runs in game two equaled a season high set March 5 against Ohio State.