DES MOINES – The Drake University softball team split a doubleheader with UNI on Tuesday afternoon at Ron Buel Field. Drake dropped the first game 2-1 before rallying to take the second game 9-1. The Bulldogs have won four of their last five games, their best five-game stretch of the season.
 
Drake struck first in Game 1 thanks to an RBI single by Emily Valtman to plate Libby Ryan in the bottom of the first inning. Ryan led the Bulldogs' offensive charge with two hits in four at-bats.
 
Nicole Timmons worked around baserunners in the early stages, stranding multiple Panthers in each of the first four innings. UNI finally broke through with the decisive hit in the sixth inning with a two-run single off the bat of Adara Opiola.
 
The Bulldogs again opened strongly in the second game. Ryan blasted a home run, and Skylar Rigby lined a two-run single down the left field line to cap Drake's three-run first frame.
 
UNI responded in the third inning by drawing three walks and converting on a wild pitch to score its lone run of the contest.
 
Drake answered emphatically in the fourth, plating six runs to put the game out of reach. Ryan kicked off the eruption with a double off the wall in left-center to bring home Haylee Lehman and Aubree Beitzinger.
 
Macy Johnson scored Ryan with a single, and Valtman brought Johnson around with a single of her own. Rigby, who finished the game 2-for-3 with 3 RBI, plated Valtman with another base hit.
 
Beitzinger concluded the outburst with a single that plated Addie Lightner. Drake held UNI in the top of the fifth as the game ended due to the eight-run rule.
 
Mackenzie Hupke earned the victory in the circle, tossing 5.0 innings while fanning three batters and surrendering just two hits.
 
Drake (12-26, 6-11 MVC) travels to Valparaiso for a weekend series as the Bulldogs will look to continue their run of strong play. First pitch in the three-game set is slated for 12 p.m. Saturday.