MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Drake softball team (6-13) lost a pitcher's duel late to North Dakota State before falling to host Minnesota in its finale of the Gopher Indoor Classic on Sunday, March 12.
 
North Dakota State 4, Drake 2
With both pitchers settled in, the scoreless tie wasn't broken until the top of the fourth when Dean sent a double to left center for a 1-0 NDSU edge.
 
The Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the sixth on an Emma Dighton double to straightaway center scoring MaKayla Rice. Soon after, Aubree Beitzinger brought Dighton around on a sacrifice fly to center.
 
Dean wasn't done for the Bison, with a game-tying solo homer in the top of the seventh before Anjolee Aguilar was the difference with a go-ahead two-run single.
 
Trailing 4-2, the Bulldogs went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh.  
 
Starting pitcher Mackenzie Hupke (3-3) was saddled with the loss allowing four runs on six hits over the course of seven innings with six strikeouts.  
 
Dighton and Beitzinger were both 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI.
 
Minnesota 7, Drake 2
The Golden Gophers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings of play.  
 
Doubles by Krapf (2 RBI) and Valencia (RBI) extended Minnesota's lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Drake pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the seventh and the late rally started when Molly Hoekstra reached on an error with one out. Singles from Kristen Arias and Haylee Lehman loaded the bases. Rice laced a single to left field to bring Hoesktra across home plate before Dighton plated Arias on a groundout. A groundout from Lightner in the next at-bat ended the game.
 
At the top of the order, Lehman and Rice both finished the game 2-for-4. Dighton (5-5) took the loss in the circle.
 
Drake softball will begin Missouri Valley Conference play with a three-game series at Missouri State March 17-19.