CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Drake softball team (18-33, 10-17) started the 2023 MVC Tournament with a bang, winning the event's first game over Evansville, 7-0. Drake used timely hitting and another dominant Mackenzie Hupke performance to take down the Purple Aces (22-32, 8-19) and advance to the second round.
 
Skylar Rigby opened the scoring for Drake with an early chopper up the middle. Her offering stayed on the infield but was deep enough for her to reach safely and drive in Emma Dighton, this season's MVC Newcomer of the Year.
 
After three scoreless innings, Carey Koenig extended Drake's lead, singling to right center to bring Haylee Lehman and Dighton around and give the Bulldogs a 3-0 advantage.
 
Finally, in the bottom of the sixth, Second-Team All-MVC honoree Emily Valtman launched a long ball over the right field fence with the bases loaded for a grand slam, her fourth home run of the year. The 7-0 lead was plenty for the Bulldogs as Evansville bowed out in the next half inning and Drake earned the first-round win.
 
Valtman's grand slam gave her a team-high four RBI while also notching a run scored and her only hit of the game. Dighton led Drake with a pair of base hits while equaling Haylee Lehman with two runs scored. Carey Koenig also chipped in with two RBI.
 
Drake ace Mackenzie Hupke fired off another stellar performance in the circle, logging her eighth complete game of the year and improving to 9-8 in the win-loss column. Hupke fanned nine batters and walked just one while allowing only three hits and not surrendering a run in the Bulldogs' tournament debut.
 
The Bulldogs will take on rival UNI for the fourth time this season in the second round. Drake and the No. 1 seed Panthers will get going at 10 a.m. in Carbondale.