DES MOINES, Iowa -- In the circle, Jayme Scheck kept the Drake softball team in the game while the Bulldogs came back to force extra innings before Bradley came away with a 7-6 win after nine innings at Ron Buel Field on Saturday, April 20. 

The Braves got off to another hot start with three runs in the top of the first inning off Emma Dighton. Drake did not take long to answer after loading up the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the first. Skylar Rigby reached on an error by the Bradley second baseman that also allowed MaKayla Rice to cross home plate. A batter later, Addie Lightner singled up the middle to bring home Carey Koenig as the Bulldogs trailed 3-2 after the opening inning. 

Back-to-back run-scoring doubles by Bailey Sample and Tori Meyer keyed another three-run frame for Bradley pushing the visitors lead to 6-2. That score held until the bottom of the third, with two down and a pair of runners on. Destiny Lewis delivered in the clutch with a three-run homer over the right centerfield wall to bring Drake within a run, 6-5. 

Still behind 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh, a leadoff walk drawn by Abby Martin sparked another Drake rally. Lightner bunted the pinch runner Heidi Wheeler into scoring position at second base and she moved to third after an infield single by Frankie Rita. 

With runners at the corner, Lewis stepped up again with a bunt single back to the circle as Wheeler scampered home for the tie. Haylee Lehman followed it up with a single to load the bases with one out. Sydney Kennedy danced out of danger for the Braves by registering a popout and lineout against the next two Bulldog hitters with extra innings on deck. 

Both teams were kept off the scoreboard in the eighth inning, but Bradley took advantage of a leadoff double in the top of the ninth by Kennedy. A sacrifice bunt moved her to third base before Kennedy scored following a Drake error. 

Lewis extended the game with a two-out single through the left side of the infield before Haylee Lehman grounded out to end the contest. Lewis was Drake's leader at the plate going 3-for-5 with her fifth home run of the season and four RBI. Lightner was 2-for-4 with an RBI while Koenig was also 2-for-4 while drawing a walk. 

Scheck (3-6) was excellent in relief only allowing four hits over 7.2 innings and one run with two strikeouts. 

The series finale between the Bulldogs and Braves will start at 1 p.m. at Ron Buel Field on Sunday, April 21.