NORMAL, Ill. – The Drake University softball team swept Illinois State Saturday in a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader at Marian Kneer Stadium. Drake (34-9, 17-0 MVC) won by scores of 8-0 and 8-3 over Illinois State (18-26, 9-8 MVC) and increased its program-record winning streak to 20 with the two victories.
 
In the opening contest, pitcher Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) continued her dominance in the circle. Newman allowed just one hit that came in the second inning to start the frame, and it was the only Illinois State baserunner in the game. She improved to 15-2 on the season and is now third all-time at Drake in career victories with 57. Newman, who struck out nine Redbirds, has 733 career strikeouts and inched closer to former standout Jenna DeLong's school record of 760.
 
Drake's offense started slowly as it didn't get its first hit until the third inning. Kelsey Wright (Olathe, Kan.) started the inning with a double to right center and Newman followed with a single up the middle and she advanced to second on the throw in. Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa) then hit a sacrifice fly to left as Abby Buie (Gardner Edgerton, Kan.), who pinch ran for Wright, scored the game's first run.
 
The Bulldogs added to their 1-0 lead with two outs in the fifth inning after they capitalized on a two-out Redbirds' error that allowed Newman to reach. Alexander followed with a single and then Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) scored Newman with a single up the middle. Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.) cleared the bases with a double as Alexander and Roemmich scored to make it 4-0.
 
Drake scored four more runs in the sixth as Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.) led off with a double down the left field line. Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) followed with a two-run home run over the left field fence and Sarah Maddox (Henderson, Nev.) made it back-to-back home runs as she launched a solo shot over the center field wall. The final run came from Roemmich's infield single that scored Alexander, who had singled and then stole second, as she sprinted home on the infield hit.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Newman retired the Redbirds in order to end the game early. As a team, the Bulldogs pounded out 10 hits off three different pitchers for Illinois State.
 
Drake broke open a scoreless game two with four runs in the third inning. Alexander, Pena and Roemmich each had run-scoring singles and Pena's scored two runs for the Bulldogs. Drake then followed with one run in each of the next two innings and two runs in the sixth. Roemmich launched her first career home run, a solo, in the fourth inning and Alexander added another RBI single in the fifth. In the sixth, Frank doubled and scored Roemmich, who drilled a leadoff double in the left field gap. Pena plated Frank, who moved to third on the throw off her double, with a sacrifice fly.
 
Illinois State, which scored their first run in the third inning, had a two-run home run in the sixth inning from Allison Wiebel off Drake pitcher Nicole Timmons (Davenport, Iowa). Timmons settled down after the home run as she retired the next four batters, three via strikeouts, to earn her 12^th win of her freshman season. Timmons (12-4) allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
 
In the two games, Roemmich finished 5-for-8 at the plate with four runs scored and four RBI while Alexander went 4-for-8 with two RBI and three runs scored.
 
Drake and Illinois State will close out the series Sunday with a single game. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.