CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Drake University softball team swept the Southern Illinois University softball team Saturday afternoon. Drake held on for a 9-7 victory in game one and rallied from a 9-4 deficit for an 11-9 win in game two.

The Bulldogs scored seven runs in the final two innings of game two to improve their record to 16-10, 2-0 MVC and the losses drop SIU's record to 10-13, 0-2 MVC.

Trailing, 9-4, heading into the top of the sixth inning, junior Cortney Wood (Alburnett, Iowa) blasted a two-run  home run and two batters later sophomore Rebekah Schmidt (Cottage Grove, Minn.) hit a solo home run to help Drake trim the deficit to 9-7.

In the seventh inning, sophomore Laura Brewer (Waukee, Iowa) hit a two-run home run and two batters later junior Jordan Gronewold (Carlisle, Iowa) ripped a two-run blast to put Drake ahead for good at 11-9. The home runs are the first of the season for Brewer and Gronewold.

Drake scored first in the second game after an RBI double by Gronewold. The Bulldogs couldn't hold the lead as the Salukis answered with two runs in the bottom half of the frame.

The Bulldogs scored three runs in the third inning to take the lead back at 4-2. Nicole Randel (Alpine, Calif.) and Wood each had RBI singles and later Randel came across to score on a double steal attempt. SIU seemed to take control of the game with six runs on five hits in the bottom half of the inning. The Salukis added another run in the next inning on a solo home run by Jayna Spivey.

Schmidt, who struggled in the circle in game one, bounced back with five strong innings in relief of Gronewold to earn the win and move to 7-5 on the year. Schmidt allowed just two runs on five hits, while striking out two and walking two.

Wood led the offense finishing 4-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI, while Hayley Nybo (Minnetonka, Minn.), Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.), Macie Silliman (Winterset, Iowa), Brewer and Gronewold each had two hits for Drake. Drake had 16 team hits.

In the first game, Drake jumped out to an 8-2 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning, before holding on for a 9-7 win over the Salukis.

Randel drove home the Bulldogs' first run in the top of the first inning and later Silliman scored her first run to stake a 2-0 lead.

Drake added two more runs the next inning with one coming on an RBI double by Pierce and the other on an RBI groundout by Nybo. SIU went on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the frame after a solo home run by Meredith Wilson.

The Bulldogs tallied two more runs in the fourth inning. Randel had a sacrifice fly that plated Silliman and Nybo reached on an error that allowed Pierce to score. SIU's second run came on another solo home run this time from Michelle Bradley in the bottom half of the inning.

Pierce led off the sixth inning with her fifth home run of the season and pinch hitter Sarah Ryan (Mount Vernon, Iowa) reached on an error, SIU's fourth of the game, which allowed Nybo to score as Drake led 8-2.

The Salukis got back into the game in the bottom half of the sixth inning with five runs, the last four on a grand slam by Taylor Osburn.

Drake posted one more run in its final at-bat, as sophomore Zeah Peterson (Baxter, Iowa) delivered a key insurance run with a pinch hit RBI single that scored Pierce.

Gronewold pitched four innings to earn the win to move to 9-5 on the season. She allowed two runs on three hits, while walking four and striking out two. Schmidt struggled in the circle in relief allowing five runs on six hits in three innings but did her earn her fourth save of the season.

The Bulldogs one and two hitters, Pierce and Silliman, powered the offense in the first game. Pierce finished 2-for-4 with four runs scored, two RBI, a home run and a stolen base, while Silliman was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Randel and Nybo each tallied two RBI.

The teams conclude the series tomorrow with a single game scheduled for noon. Live stats will be available at www.godrakebulldogs.com.