The Basics
The women of the Drake University softball team are packing their bags and heading down to Memphis, Tenn. for a weekend series at the Blues City Classic. The Bulldogs are scheduled to play one game each against North Dakota State, Memphis, and UTSA, and two games against SIUE from Friday, Mar. 3 to Sunday, Mar. 5.
About the Bulldogs
Drake is looking to change the trajectory of their season as their record is currenely 2-8 overall. The Bulldogs are coming fresh off a winless tournament at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. where they lost five games to a pair of nationally ranked opponents.
Leading the pack for the Bulldogs' lineup is junior
MaKayla Rice. Rice is off to a hot start this season, pacing Drake with a .412 batting average in 34 at-bats. Rice was nominated for MVC Player of the Week following her impressive performance in week one of the season.
Other notable players for Drake are
Emma Dighton and
Emily Valtman. Dighton smashed two home runs in the opening weekend, and she currently boasts a slugging percentage of .500. Dighton is also leading the Bulldogs on the mound with 20.1 innings and a 3.79 earned run average. Valtman has a batting average of .281 and one home run.
Scouting the Opposition
The struggling Bulldogs will have an opportunity to relocate their rhythm in the Blues City Classic, as all four of their opponents have registered more loses than wins in 2023.
The Bulldogs begin the weekend facing off against North Dakota State on Friday, March 3 at 10 a.m. Drake and North Dakota State hold an even record against each other in previous play, with both teams winning four games. Drake faces off against SIUE on Friday, March 3 at 12:30 p.m. to complete the double-header.
Drake plays against Memphis and UTSA on Saturday, March 4 at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively. Memphis holds a narrow 1-0 all-time advantage over the Bulldogs and Drake has never faced off against UTSA.
The Bulldogs also end the weekend with a contest against SIUE on Sunday, March 5 at 9 a.m. Drake and the Cougars have split their four-game series two wins each in all-time play, with the most recent game being a 3-2 Bulldog victory in 2019.
Up Next
Drake heads up north to Minneapolis, Minn. for the Gopher Indoor Classic from March 10 to March 12.
