DES MOINES, Iowa –Sophomore pitcher Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) of the Drake University softball team tossed a complete game with 12 strikeouts and the Bulldogs used a five-run second-inning to help defeat Southern Illinois, 7-1, on Saturday afternoon at Ron Buel Field.
 
Drake improved to 17-11 overall and 7-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference with the series-opening win over SIU, who dropped to 20-9 overall and 5-1 in the MVC.
 
In the Bulldogs' big second inning the first run came courtesy of an error by SIU, but later the Bulldogs scored four more runs from three-consecutive, run-scoring hits. Sophomore Kelsey Wright (Olathe, Kan.) drove in two runs with her first triple of the season then freshman Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.) followed with a RBI-single and junior Megan Sowa (Gurnee, Ill.) capped the five-run second with her own RBI-single as Drake led 5-0 after two innings.
 
In the fourth inning, Frank blasted her team-leading eighth home run on the season, a two-run shot that had no problem getting out on a very windy afternoon.
 
Newman, who at one point in the contest struck out five consecutive Salukis, allowed just one run on three hits to move her record in the circle to 13-5.
 
Frank led the offense with two hits while Sowa and Wright each had one hit. Sophomore Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa) added Drake's other hit and also scored one run.
 
Drake and SIU will conclude the series with a doubleheader Sunday. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 11 a.m.