CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Drake University softball team edged UNI, 1-0, Tuesday night in a midweek Missouri Valley Conference game.
 
Drake (34-13, 19-1 MVC) clinched its seventh league series and sixth by sweep this season with its win over UNI (22-9, 13-7 MVC). The Bulldogs swept the Panthers in a doubleheader on April 9 at Buel Field.
 
Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) threw her first no-hitter of the year and fourth overall in a pitcher's duel with Panthers' ace Jaclyn Spencer. Newman, who improved to 21-6, allowed just one walk and struck out 13. She just missed her third perfect game of the season when she issued a leadoff walk to Courtney Krodinger in the fifth inning.
 
The Bulldogs took advantage of one of the Panthers' two errors in the game and used small ball to help score the game's only run in the third inning. Abby Buie (Gardner, Kan.) was the first batter and she reached on an error by UNI's third baseman, Adara Opiola. Buie then moved to second on Libby Ryan's (Mount Vernon, Iowa) sacrifice bunt to Spencer. Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) followed and hit a swinging bunt back at Spencer that she made a bad throw to first base on that allowed Buie to score all the way from second for what would be the deciding run.
 
Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.) had the game's only hit, a double in the fourth inning. Pena added a pair of walks and moved five away from tying Elena Leon's (2007-10) all-time record of 112 career walks. Sarah Maddox (Henderson, Nev.) drew one walk.
 
Drake visits Missouri State for its final regular season road series Saturday and Sunday. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 12 pm. The two games will be streamed on ESPN+.