PEORIA, Ill. – The Bradley Braves edged the Drake Bulldogs softball team, 3-2, in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Laura Bradley Park.

Nicole Randel (Alpine. Calif.) put Drake (25-17, 11-5 MVC) up 1-0 in the top of the first inning with a two-out RBI groundout that scored Amy Pierce (Olathe, Kan.). Pierce drew a leadoff walk to start the game and proceeded to steal second and third to be in position to score. Later the Bulldogs had runners on third and second but starting pitcher Jordan Gronewold (Carlisle, Iowa) flied out to end the inning.

Bradley (22-21, 7-9 MVC) answered in the bottom of the first getting one run on three hits off of Gronewold as its starting pitcher, Madeline Lynch-Crumri, hit an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.

The Braves added a run in the third inning on an RBI double by Kathryn Spenn and a run in the fourth inning on a wild pitch by Drake sophomore Rebekah Schmidt (Cottage Grove, Minn.) to lead 3-1.

Drake cut into the deficit in the sixth inning after a sacrifice fly by Schmidt plated Gronewold. Trailing, 3-2, going into the seventh inning, sophomore Hayley Nybo (Minnetonka, Minn.) blasted a two-out double that hit off the top of the wall with the wind blowing in. She was stranded though as Randel grounded out to third base to end the game and give Bradley the win.

Gronewold allowed two earned runs on three hits as she falls to 15-8 on the season. Schmidt pitched in relief and allowed one run on four hits.

Senior Macie Silliman (Winterset, Iowa) led the Drake offense with two hits, while Pierce scored once and had two stolen bases. Gronewold added one hit and one run.

Drake hosts in-state rival Iowa State in a midweek contest on Tuesday night. First pitch against the Cyclones is set for 6 p.m. at Ron Buel Field.