DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University softball team defeated in-state rival Iowa State, 3-2, Tuesday night at Buel Field behind a stellar performance in the circle and at the plate by junior Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.)
 
Smith improved to 11-13 on the season after she pitched seven innings, giving up two runs on six hits and striking out four batters while walking one. Smith hit a RBI double in the fifth inning, scoring freshman Sarah Maddox (Henderson, Nev.) to take a 3-2 lead.
 
Drake loaded the bases in the first inning but two back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning to three runners stranded. Kelsey McFarland singled to scored two runs to give Iowa State a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
 
Freshman Abby Buie (Gardner, Kan.) answered in the bottom of the third with a single before sophomore Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.) singled to score Buie. With two outs in the fourth inning, sophomore Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.) and freshman Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) had back-to-back walks before a crucial error by Iowa State on a ball hit by Buie that allowed Frank to score and tie the game at 2-2.
 
The Bulldogs return to Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend with a three-game series against Illinois State on April 14 and 15. Drake faces the Redbirds on Friday with a doubleheader scheduled to start at 2 p.m. before concluding the series Saturday with a single game at 12 p.m.