The Basics
The Drake University softball team will travel north for their final early season invitational tournament. The Bulldogs are set for a five-game set against four non-conference opponents at the Gopher Indoor Classic. This weekend's action will take place at U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, in Minneapolis, Minn. from Friday, Mar. 10 to Sunday, Mar. 12.
About the Bulldogs
Drake is now 4-10 for the season after an even 2-2 weekend at the Blues City Classic in Memphis, Tenn. last week. The Bulldogs' two wins came in comeback fashion over the host Memphis Tigers and UTSA Roadrunners while snapping an eight-game losing streak.
Two Bulldogs top the roster with batting averages of .300+.
MaKayla Rice leads Drake with a .348 average followed by
Aubree Beitzinger at .326. Rice also leads the team with 16 hits and is tied with
Sami Miller with a team-high eight runs scored. Elsewhere,
Emma Dighton's .476 slugging percentage and 14 RBI lead the team in both categories.
Mackenzie Hupke has been the Bulldogs' top arm with a 3.60 earned run average while holding opposing batters to a .200 average. She is the only Bulldog pitcher to multiple games so far this season and has a staff-best 29 strikeouts. Hupke' play at the Blues City Classic last weekend was good enough to earn an MVC Pitcher of the Week nomination.
Scouting the Opposition
The Bulldogs will start their stay at Gopher Indoor Classic with a matchup against Central Michigan on Friday, Mar. 10 at 4:30 p.m. Drake will be looking to pick up their first-ever win over the Chippewas as Central Michigan took two neutral site wins in 2014.
Drake will then take on St. Thomas on Saturday, Mar. 11 at 9 a.m. That meeting will be the first between the Bulldogs and Division I-newcomer St. Thomas. Drake's Saturday will continue in the next game with an 11:30 a.m. tilt against North Dakota State.
The final day of the Gopher Indoor Classic will kick off with another matchup versus North Dakota State on Sunday, Mar. 12 at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs and Bison will look to take an advantage in their all-time series as each team has won four games in eight meetings. Drake has had the most recent success with victories in the last two games.
Drake's final bout at U.S. Bank Stadium will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday against the invitational hosts from Minnesota.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will begin their 2023 Missouri Valley Conference slate with a three-game weekend series at Missouri State. Drake will visit the Bears from Friday, Mar. 17 to Sunday, Mar. 19.
