PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley scored the first four runs of the game, but league-leading Drake pulled within a run with a three-run fourth and struck for three more runs in the seventh to top the Braves 6-4 Saturday afternoon at Laura Bradley Park. 

Senior Alyson Spinas-Valainis (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption) struck out a career-high seven and settled down after surrendering three runs in the top of the fourth to retire Drake in order in the fifth and work around a leadoff single in the sixth before the Bulldogs were able to rally for three runs in the seventh. 

Bradley (17-31 overall, 10-12 MVC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning.  Sophomore Kelly Kapp (Freeburg, Ill./Gibault Catholic) had a single and stole second to open the frame.  Freshman Maria Schroeder (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) drew a four-pitch walk and both runners came home after Drake starter Rebekah Schmidt had three wild pitches. 

Spinas-Valainis sat Drake (28-16 overall, 17-5 MVC) down in order in both the second and third innings and the Braves added two more runs in the third.  Kapp led off the Bradley half of the third with a single and stole second.  Schroeder reached on an error, which allowed Kapp to score from second and Schroeder later scored on a single by freshman Erika Hansen (Fillmore, Calif./Moorpark) as the Braves took a 4-0 lead.

Drake got on the board with three runs in the top of the fourth to pull within a run at 4-3.  Megan Sowa led off with a double to left center and a Bradley error put runners at first and second.  Hayley Nybo doubled into the corner in the left field to drive in both base runners.  After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Nybo scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Schmidt to cut the Braves' advantage to one run. 

Bradley managed just one hit in the final four innings with senior Shannon King (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) leading off the bottom of the sixth with a triple to right.  The Braves were unable to push her across, however, and clung to a 4-3 lead heading to the seventh. 

Tasha Alexander got things started for Drake in the seventh with a one-out double off the bottom of the fence in left field.  Alexander swiped third and was able to score on a squeeze bunt by Sarah Ryan to tie the game at 4-4.  Kelsey Wright smacked a double to left center to drive in Ryan with the go-ahead run and Sowa plated Wright with an insurance run with a single up the middle to put the Bulldogs in front 6-4. 

Schmidt struck out the first two batters of the Bradley half of the seventh and Nybo robbed Kapp of a two-out hit with a diving grab in right to end the game. 

Spinas-Valainis walked just one and notched a career-best seven strikeouts as she fell to 8-16 with the loss for Bradley.  Schmidt upped her record to 17-10 with the win in the circle for Drake. 

The Braves and Bulldogs close out the three-game series Sunday with a noon doubleheader at Laura Bradley Park, with Bradley's five seniors recognized prior to the final home games of their collegiate careers.