Saturday, April 30, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Drake University softball team swept its Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader at Missouri State, Saturday, taking game one, 2-1, in 11 innings and winning in the nightcap 2-0. The wins broke a three-game losing streak by the Bulldogs and moved their record to 32-18 overall and 18-4 in the MVC.

At 18-4, Drake is tied with Illinois State for the conference lead.

Pitching was Drake's strong point on the day, as both Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho) and Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn.) turned in excellent performances.

DeLong tossed all 11 innings in the opener, allowing one unearned run on six hits while striking out seven for her 20th victory of the year. DeLong becomes just the second Drake pitcher to win 20 games in a season and the first since Laurie Bowden (1990-93) won 28 in 1990.

The win came after Drake was held scoreless through 6.1 innings by Missouri State hurler Natalie Rose. The Bears carried a 1-0 lead into the seventh before senior Erin Mollohan (Tinley Park, Ill.) scored on an RBI single to center by freshman Nicole Randel (Alpine, Calif.). Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz.) crossed the plate in the 11th on a sacrifice by Mollohan.

Missouri State loaded the bases in the 11th, but failed to capitalize.

Dordel equaled DeLong's effort, tossing seven shutout innings and allowing just six hits while striking out four. The senior earned her 11th victory of the season and first since April 6 against Iowa.

Offensively, Mollohan and senior Molly McClelland (West Des Moines, Iowa) tallied four of Drake's 11 hits on the day and accounted for three of the the four Bulldog RBI. Freshman Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.) scored both of Drake's runs in game two.

The Bulldogs and Bears play game three Sunday at noon.