CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Drake University softball team opens the 2021 season at the annual UNI Dome Tournament hosted by Northern Iowa. Drake faces South Dakota State in the season opener Friday at 6 p.m. followed by a Saturday morning matchup with Butler at 10:15 a.m. and a rematch with the Jackrabbits at 2:45 p.m. in the afternoon. The Bulldogs finish the tournament Sunday with games against Iowa State at 11:15 a.m. and Omaha at 1:30 p.m., respectively. Friday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ while both games Saturday will be on ESPN3. All five games will have live stats here.
 
Drake returns to the diamond after its 2020 season was cut short in March due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The unexpected early end happened days before the Bulldogs were to begin Missouri Valley Conference play.
 
Drake is led by longtime head coach Rich Calvert who is entering his 19^th season at the helm. In 2021, Calvert has a roster heavy on first- and second-year players but has an experienced group of seniors in Laura Anderson, Macy Johnson, Libby Ryan and Nicole Timmons. Johnson will patrol centerfield again while Ryan will play second base and each will be at the top of the batting order. Anderson will primarily catch, including for Timmons, who will be the ace for the Bulldogs' rotation. Junior Alexia Lara is the only other veteran on the roster and will also see time behind the plate like Anderson as well as in the outfield.
 
Kristen Arias, Aubree Beitzinger, Mackenzie Hupke, Delaney Taylor, Allie Timmons and Emily Valtman all had their first seasons at Drake cut short last year. Taylor shifts to left field for the Bulldogs after playing right field in 2020 while Beitzinger and Valtman return to third and first base, respectively. Valtman could also see time in the outfield. Hupke and Allie Timmons will join Allie's older sister, Nicole, in the rotation. Arias will also see time at catcher and will serve as the designated player for some games.
 
Drake welcomes six freshman this season as Molly Hoekstra, Haylee Lehman, Addie Lightner, MaKayla Rice, Emma Richards and Skylar Rigby are set for their first seasons. Lehman, Lightner, Rigby and Rice will play in the infield while Lehman and Rigby will also see time in the outfield for the Bulldogs. Rigby will also help catch. Hoekstra and Richards round out the rotation. Richards can also play first base.
 
Following its trip to Cedar Falls, Drake travels to St. Louis Feb. 19-21 where it will play Saint Louis and Omaha twice each.