DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University softball team takes on Indiana State in its home opener with a three-game series on April 1 and 2. The series begins Saturday with a doubleheader with games scheduled for 12 and 2 p.m. before concluding Sunday with a game at 11 a.m. All three games will be streamed on The Valley on ESPN3.
 
Drake (16-16, 0-6 MVC) will look to break a seven-game losing streak when it hosts Indiana State (15-13, 2-4 MVC). The Bulldogs were swept by Southern Illinois last weekend after being swept by Wichita State in the first weekend of MVC play the week prior. Drake was led in game one at Southern Illinois by freshman Abby Buie (Gardner, Kan.) who drove in both the Bulldogs' runs in the 6-2 loss.
 
The Sycamores went 2-1 last weekend against UNI, including a 5-4 nine-inning victory in the series finale. Indiana State has been led by a pair of newcomers in Leslie Sims and Brooke Mann. Sims, a freshman, has the league's fourth-highest batting average at .450 while sophomore Mann picked up MVC Player and Newcomer of the Week honors earlier this season after going 10-for-12 (.833) at the plate in a five-game weekend.
 
The Bulldogs will continue their home stand with a midweek game against in-state opponent Iowa on April 5 at 6 p.m. before a three-game conference matchup against Evansville on April 8 and 9.