DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University softball team is set for a busy week of Missouri Valley Conference action with five games on the schedule.
Drake (11-25, 5-10 MVC) hosts UNI (21-14, 11-4 MVC) in a doubleheader Tuesday at Buel Field. First pitch with the Panthers is now set for 3 p.m. Following the midweek twin bill, the Bulldogs visit Valparaiso (5-15, 1-14 MVC) Saturday and Sunday for a three-game series.
Drake is on a season-high four-game winning streak started by an epic comeback at Iowa State and a home sweep of Evansville. The Bulldogs used a combination of solid pitching and timely hitting, including some clutch home runs by several players, in the four victories.
The biggest home run was senior
Laura Anderson's three-run home run in the seventh against the Cyclones that helped Drake claim a thrilling 7-6 comeback win. It was Anderson's first homer this season and the last of seven unanswered Bulldog runs in the final two innings. Freshmen
MaKayla Rice crushed her first career home run, a three-run blast, in Drake's second win over the Purple Aces.
Addie Lightner,
Libby Ryan and
Emily Valtman each hit one home run last week as well.
Senior pitcher
Nicole Timmons had an outstanding week in the circle going 3-0 with one save and posted a 1.67 earned run average with 22 strikeouts. Her outstanding week helped her earn MVC Pitcher of the Week honors on Monday, her first this season and second in her career. Timmons' three wins give her 39 in her outstanding career, which is just one win away from No. 10 all-time at Drake.
UNI has won nine out of its past 10 games, including eight league victories, to help climb to second place in the MVC standings. The Panthers boast the top offense in the Valley, leading in home runs (41), doubles (49), RBI (172) and slugging percentage (.464).
Valpo visits Loyola for a midweek doubleheader Wednesday before the series against Drake. Valpo is looking to snap a 14-game losing streak when it visits Chicago.
Drake closes the season series with UNI on April 27 with a single game scheduled for 6 p.m. in Cedar Falls.
