DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake (20-24, 11-9 MVC) closed out the home stand Sunday as it avoided the sweep by defeating the Southern Illinois Salukis (30-13, 14-5 MVC), 4-2.
Southern Illinois took the lead in the top of the second inning as Morgan Barchan hit a two-out single to left field to score Haley Gorman.
Drake tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the third inning after sophomore Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.) hit her first home run this season over the left field fence. Drake would take the lead later in the inning after freshman Hayley Nybo (Minnetonka, Minn.) doubled off of the center field fence to plate Torey Craddock (Tucson, Ariz.) and take the lead, 3-2.
Nybo added an insurance run in the fifth inning as she scored Pierce on a hard hit ground ball past the shortstop.
Sophomore Jordan Gronewold (Carlisle, Iowa) pitched seven innings and allowed two runs, while scattering nine hits and three walks. She struck out two and improved her record to 15-17.
Pierce led the offensive charge for the Bulldogs with a 1-for-2 performance, drawing two walks, adding a stolen base and drove in a pair. Nybo also had a strong day, batting 2-for-3 with two runs batted in.
The Bulldogs will travel to Creighton on Tuesday with a 4 p.m. game before traveling to South Dakota State for a doubleheader on Wednesday. Game times for Wednesday are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
