The Basics
The Bulldogs will hit the road for a three-game series against Valparaiso spanning from Friday, Apr. 21 to Sunday, Apr. 23. All three games will be played in Valparaiso, Indiana. 
 
Drake will then travel to Cedar Falls for one game against UNI on Tuesday, Apr. 25. 
 
About the Bulldogs
Senior Aubree Beitzinger and sophomore Emma Dighton have been stalwarts in the Bulldogs' lineup this season. Beitzinger leads the team in batting average among players with over 100 at-bats at a .293 mark. She has also started in all 39 games for Drake this season. 
 
Dighton has provided power for the Bulldogs as she's smashed a team-high six home runs. She also leads the team with a .512 slugging percentage. MaKayla Rice has also been a solid piece in the Bulldogs' starting nine with a .291 average and nine steals, both second-most on the team.
 
Mackenzie Hupke has been a dominant force on the mound for the Bulldogs this season as she's punched out a team-high 111 batters. After back-to-back seven-inning performances, Hupke has lowered her season ERA to 2.97. She has now thrown four complete games in 2023. 
 
Scouting the Competition
Drake is scheduled to play Valparaiso on Friday, Apr. 21 at 3 p.m., Saturday, Apr. 22 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, Apr. 23 at noon. All three games will be played in Valparaiso, Indiana.
 
The Beacons are 8-30 on the season and 4-13 in conference. Valparaiso won two out of three games against Bradley in their most recent series. Drake will look to capitalize against the struggling Beacons and improve their record after dropping the last six.
 
Drake holds a commanding 12-1 record all-time against Valparaiso. Drake lost their first-ever game against the Beacons in 2012 but have now won 12 straight contests. In their most recent matchup, the Bulldogs swept the Beacons in a three-game series in 2022. 
 
Drake will then continue their road trip with a one-game set against UNI on Tuesday, Apr. 25. 
 
UNI is 26-11 on the season with a dominating 15-1 in-conference record. UNI is the number one seed in the MVC and they'll be a challenging mid-week opponent for Drake. The Panthers have won the last seven meetings in the rivalry.
 
Up next
The Bulldogs will continue their road stint with a series in Nashville, Tennessee against Belmont. The series will take place from Friday, Apr. 28 to Sunday, Apr. 30. Drake will then travel back north for one game against Iowa State in Ames, Iowa on Wednesday, May 3.