CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Drake University softball team edged Southern Illinois, 2-1, Sunday in the finale of a Missouri Valley Conference series.
 
Drake (28-9, 11-0 MVC), which has won 14 consecutive games, scored both of its run early. Junior Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.) continued her streak of driving in key runs by providing the Bulldogs' first run. In the first inning, Pena doubled as junior Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.), who reached on a one out fielder's choice and then stole second, scored for a 1-0 lead. Drake added to its advantage as senior Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa) crushed a solo home run in the third inning to make it 2-0. Alexander leads the team with three home runs this season.
 
SIU (20-15, 4-6 MVC) scored its only run to cut its deficit to 2-1 in the fifth inning as Kyle Decker hit a leadoff home run off of Drake starter Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.). Smith then got two outs before redshirt junior pitcher Nicole Newman (Davenport, Iowa), who threw her first career no-hitter Saturday in the first of the two wins, came on in relief with a runner on third. Newman escaped the jam with a flyout and later struck out five of the final six Salukis to earn her first save of the year.
 
Smith improved to 7-3 with the win after she pitched 4.2 innings and allowed one run on five hits with three strikeouts and zero walks. Newman went 2.1 innings and finished with five strikeouts.
 
Following Sunday's win, Drake is scheduled to play at South Dakota State April 11 at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs then return to Buel Field to host Valparaiso, April 14-15, in a three-game MVC series.