The Basics
The Drake University softball team will host Murray State for a home series this weekend at Buel Field. The Bulldogs will welcome the MVC-newcomers for a three-game set lasting from Friday, Mar. 3 to Sunday, Apr. 2.
Drake will then remain in Des Moines for a non-league contest against Iowa on Tuesday, Apr. 4.
About the Bulldogs
Infielder
Aubree Beitzinger and Utility player
Emma Dighton have been the offensive leaders for Drake this season. Beitzinger leads the team with a .309 batting average. She has also played in every game this season and is tied for second in at-bats on the team with 81.
Dighton leads the Bulldogs in home runs and slugging as she's put five balls over the wall this season and holds a .556 slugging percentage. Dighton will look to continue her success at home as she went 5-for-10 at the plate with one home run in the home series against Indiana State.
MaKayla Rice has been solid for the Bulldogs with a .298 average, the second-best on the team. Rice has also posted a team-high five doubles and tied Beitzinger for the team-lead in hits with 25.
Mackenzie Hupke has been the ace of the Drake pitching staff this season, pitching to a 3.43 ERA and holding opposing hitters to a .230 average in 53 innings on the mound. Hupke has also registered 59 strikeouts on the season, leading the Bulldogs.
Scouting the Competition
The Bulldogs are scheduled to play against the Murray State Racers on Friday, Mar. 31 at 3 p.m., Saturday, Apr. 1 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, Apr. 2 at noon. The games will be held at Ron Buel Field in Des Moines, Iowa.
This weekend, Drake and Murray State will more than double the number of times they've historically matched up. The Bulldogs have only played against the Racers twice, with Murray State holding a 2-0 all-time advantage.
Murray State is 19-12 on the season with a 4-3 in-conference record. Drake will look to capitalize on the home series this weekend as Murray State is 4-4 on the road.
Drake will then host Iowa for a mid-week matchup at home.
The Hawkeyes are 20-12 on the season and 2-1 in Big Ten play. Iowa will be a challenging opponent for Drake as they hold a winning record of 5-3 on the road this season.
Iowa will host Northwestern for a Big 10 in-conference weekend series before traveling to Des Moines to play against Drake.
Drake currently holds an 11-9 advantage in the all-time series against the in-state opponent dating back to 2004. The Bulldogs lost the most recent game against the Hawkeyes 2-3 in 2022.
Up Next
Drake will travel to Peoria, Ill. for an in-conference series against Bradley. This three-game series will take place from Friday, Apr. 7 to Sunday, Apr. 9. The Bulldogs will then travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa for a game against UNI on Tuesday, Apr. 11.
