CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Drake University softball team got their MVC schedule started this evening. The Bulldogs (10-11) started a road series with a loss at Southern Illinois (18-4), the current league leaders.
 
The Bulldogs and Salukis struggled to get anything going offensively through the first four innings. SIU finally broke through in the home half of the fifth with a four-run frame. Jackie Lis started the scoring with a two-run home run to center. Anna Carder followed that productive play with one of her own, this time a two-RBI single to right field.
 
SIU added an insurance run in the sixth inning as Sidney Jones drove another score across on a fielder's choice.
 
The Drake offense was shut down in short order after that as the league-leading Salukis completed the 5-0 result.
 
Five different Bulldogs went 1-for-3 including Addie Lightner, Abby Martin, Allie Bishoff, Frankie Rita, and Haylee Lehman. Drake starter Emma Dighton took the loss to fall to 2-6 on the season. She threw 4.0 innings and fanned just one batter.
 
The Bulldogs will continue their series in Carbondale tomorrow with a 2 p.m. contest.