DES MOINES, Iowa – Sarah Maddox (Henderson, Nev.) crushed a three-run home run and Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) made Missouri Valley Conference history in the circle for the Drake University softball team in a 3-1 win over Illinois State (12-30, 6-8 MVC) Saturday at Buel Field.
 
Drake (33-13, 18-1 MVC) extended its winning streak to 19 games in its final home contest of a season-long nine game homestand.
 
Newman recorded her 20^th win in her 20^th complete game on the season. She struck out 12 and allowed one walk and two hits. Newman, who last season became Drake's all-time leader in career strikeouts, made history Saturday in the fourth inning with a pair of strikeouts to become the Valley's all-time leader in career strikeouts with 1,087. The historical strikeout also broke her own Drake single season mark of 287. Newman has 1,092 strikeouts now and 292 this season.
 
Maddox's three-run home run in second inning was all Drake needed on Saturday. It was her second home run of the season and number 15 in her career. Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.) and Newman led off the frame with back-to-back singles to set up Maddox.
 
In the game, Drake finished with eight hits as Maddox and Pena each collected two. Abby Buie (Gardner, Kan.), Newman, Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) and Melissa Schlotzhauer (Pilot Grove, Mo.) each had one hit.
 
Drake travels to UNI Tuesday for a 6 p.m. in-state game that will be broadcast on ESPN+.