TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Drake University softball remained undefeated in the Missouri Valley Conference with a doubleheader sweep over Indiana State Friday. Drake (21-9, 5-0 MVC) won the opening game over Indiana State (15-11, 3-2 MVC), 4-0, and then won the second game by a score of 8-0. The road series was moved up one day due to expected inclement weather in Terre Haute this weekend.
 
Pitcher Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) dominated the first contest. Newman (9-2) pitched a shutout with a season-high 15 strikeouts and allowed just one hit and one walk. She earned her 51^st career win, which is tied for sixth all-time at Drake with Stephanie Wright. Her 15 strikeouts put her at 661 in her outstanding career as she moved past Jessica Hicks for fourth all-time. The only hit for Indiana State came in the fifth inning with two outs and after the hit, Newman struck out seven of the final eight Sycamores to end the game.
 
Offensively for the Bulldogs, Macy Johnson (Winterset, Iowa) doubled in Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) for the game's first run in the first inning. Roemmich led the game off with a single. Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) blasted a solo home run in the fourth inning to increase the lead to 2-0.
 
Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa) added two insurance runs in the sixth inning as the Bulldogs capitalized on a two-out Sycamores' error. Sarah Maddox (Henderson, Nev.) reached on an infield single with one out and then moved to third base after a throwing error by Indiana State pitcher Stober on a ball hit by Newman as Stober underthrew the ball in the dirt. Alexander then made Stober pay with a single over the shortstop's head and into left field to bring in Maddox and pinch runner Gabbie Jonas (Omaha, Neb.), who had stolen second.
 
Drake grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the second game with three runs in the second frame. Ashlie Chambers (Ankeny, Iowa) drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly that scored Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.). Alexander then followed with an RBI single that scored Maddox. Roemmich then hit a single to right field that scored Kelsey Wright (Olathe, Kan.), but Alexander, who stole second, was thrown out at the plate on a close play to end the inning.
 
The Bulldogs added runs in the third and fourth inning. In the third, Pena lined a single up the middle as Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.) scored and Frank had an RBI groundout in the fourth that scored Abby Buie (Gardner, Kan.).
 
Drake increased its lead to 8-0 in the seventh inning with three runs. Smith's RBI double to left field scored Frank and then Maddox cracked a single to center field that scored Pena and Smith.  
 
Nicole Timmons (Davenport, Iowa) started game two in the circle. Timmons (8-4) tossed five scoreless innings and allowed three hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Smith relieved Timmons, tossed two innings and allowed two hits and struck out one.
 
Drake and Indiana State are scheduled to end the series Saturday morning with an 11 a.m. game.
 
Following the Indiana State series, Drake will travel to face in-state foe Iowa March 28 at 5 p.m. before the Bulldogs' home opener against Bradley, March 30-31.