CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Drake University softball team starts its Missouri Valley Conference schedule Saturday and Sunday at league leader Southern Illinois. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is noon while Sunday is 11 a.m. The two games Saturday will be streamed on ESPN3 with the series finale Sunday on ESPN+.
 
Drake (4-13) and SIU (18-2) are each set to play their first MVC games since 2019 after the 2020 season was cancelled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the week league play was to begin. Drake was fifth in Tuesday's 2021 MVC Softball Preseason Poll while SIU is tabbed the favorites by the MVC's coaches.
 
In his 19^th season as head coach Rich Calvert has a roster this season heavy on youth with 12 freshmen and sophomores. Rounding out his roster are four seniors in Laura Anderson, Macy Johnson, Libby Ryan and Nicole Timmons and one junior, Alexia Lara.
 
Drake gained valuable experience with its challenging early non-conference schedule with eight games against Power 5 teams that have been or are ranked or received votes in the top 25 polls along with games against several strong mid-major teams.
 
Johnson, a two-time All-MVC selection, is having a terrific senior season in centerfield and hitting leadoff. She is batting a league-leading .516 with a league-best 32 hits, has a 20-game hitting streak going back to the end of 2020 and leads the MVC in stolen bases with 13.
 
Sophomores Delaney Taylor and Emily Valtman have played in every game with Taylor batting a career-high .277 and Valtman hitting .275. Freshman Addie Lightner has started every game and leads the team in home runs with two and runs batted in with 12.
 
SIU, which won its first 16 games this season, is one of the most experienced teams in the MVC. The Salukis had four players selected to the MVC All-Preseason team that was also announced Tuesday.
 
Drake stays on the road going to Missouri State March 27-28.