CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Drake softball team ended their season this morning with a second-round loss to UNI (38-11, 26-1). The No. 1 seed Panthers grabbed an early lead and survived a few different scares from the Bulldogs (18-34, 10-17) to earn the 6-2 and advance to the conference semifinals.
 
Alexis Pupillo put the Panthers on top early, hitting a solo shot home run in the bottom of the first inning. UNI continued their run a few innings later when Hannah Kelley and Kylee Sanders both doubled, extending their advantage to 3-0.
 
Drake countered in the top of the fifth, getting the margin back to 3-2 when both Emma Dighton and MaKayla Rice scored on a UNI error.
 
The Bulldogs got runners on and in scoring position a few more times but could not keep up with UNI's powerful offense. Mya Dodge homered in the home half of the fifth and Pupillo bookended the top seed's scoring effort with her second home run of the day in the sixth to reach the final 6-2 tally.
 
Emilly Valtman was the only Bulldog to record multiple hits with two while Dighton, Rice, and Sami Miller each logged one base knock apiece.
 
Mackenzie Hupke started in the circle for Drake and was pulled in favor of Dighton just a few batters into the game. After 4.1 innings, Dighton was also substituted for Hupke as the Bulldog ace came back in relief and took the loss.
 
MVC Pitcher of the Year Samantha Heyer improved to 23-4 on the year after collecting the win.
 
Drake wrapped up their 2023 campaign with a record of 18-34 overall and 10-17 in conference play. The Panthers will take on the winner of Indiana State and Murray State tomorrow for a chance to play for the MVC title.