CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Drake University softball team dropped a Missouri Valley Conference road game at Northern Iowa Wednesday, April 27 night. UNI (25-14, 15-6 MVC) claimed the season series with Drake (14-27, 8-12 MVC) by rallying from a 3-0 deficit for a 13-5 win in six innings.
Leadoff hitter
Libby Ryan started the game with a solo blast over the right center field fence, her team-leading fifth home run this season, to put the Bulldogs up 1-0. Addie Lighnter added another run with a RBI single that scored
Macy Johnson, who lined a double after Ryan. Later
Laura Anderson drew a bases loaded walk that brought in Lightner for a 3-0 lead. But Drake's opportunity for more runs ended as
Haylee Lehman struck out with the bases loaded.
UNI evened the score with a three-run, third-inning that knocked out starter
Nicole Timmons. Mackenize Hupke replaced Timmons with runners on second and third and promptly got a strikeout to escape further trouble.
However, the Panthers broke open the game in the fourth inning sending 13 hitters to the plate and scoring eight runs. Drake got two runs back in the fifth after it loaded the bases with one out.
Aubree Beitzinger drew a bases loaded walk to score Lightner and
Alexia Lara singled up the middle to bring in
MaKayla Rice. But the rally try ended as Lehman struck out and Ryan grounded out to short.
Drake was retired in order in the top of the sixth and in the bottom half of the inning, UNI ended the game early with two runs off
Emma Richards, who replaced Hupke in the fourth.
Hupke lasted just one inning, allowed seven earned runs on two hits and issued five walks as her record dropped to 6-6. Timmons pitched 2.2 innings and allowed three runs with three walks and one strikeout. Richards tossed two innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits.
Macy Johnson went 2-for-4 while Beitzinger, Lara, Lightner and Ryan each had one hit as the team finished with six. The Bulldogs stranded eight baserunners,
Drake hosts Loyola Saturday and Sunday at Buel Field in its final homestand of 2021. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is noon.
