The Basics
Drake softball will open the home portion of their 2024 MVC schedule this weekend as they host Valparaiso from March 22-23. The Bulldogs will look for their first conference victory in the series.
Inclement weather has forced the Bulldogs to adjust their schedule this weekend. Drake will now battle the Beacons in a Friday doubleheader at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The series finale will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake enters the weekend with an overall record of 11-13 after snapping a five-game losing streak in their last time out. The Bulldogs' most recent victory came on Tuesday afternoon over Western Illinois.
Emma Dighton leads a trio of .300+ hitters with a precise batting average of .333.
MaKayla Rice at .327 and
Abby Martin at .316 are also towards the top of the Bulldogs' stat sheet. Dighton also leads the team with 25 base hits. Five of Rice's hits have been triples.
Martin is also second on the club with 14 runs scored, just behind
Carey Koenig with 15 runs, and leads the team with 12 walks.
Addie Lightner has been the most productive run producer for Drake with a team-high 14 RBI.
Molly Hoekstra has been the ace on staff so far this season. She carries a 4-1 record a 4.88 earned run average, the lowest on the team. Hoekstra grinded through the Bulldogs' last win over WIU with her second complete game of the season. She also leads the team in strikeouts with 22 despite logging the third-most appearances.
Scouting Valpo
The Beacons of Valparaiso currently own a 6-18 record and have won one of their last five games. Most recently, the Beacons were swept in a three-game road series at Evansville.
Kam Utendorf leads the Valpo offense with a .455 batting average in 55 at bats this season. Other key threats include Regi Hecker with a .348 average and Kayden Krug at .343. Utendorf leads the team in hits with 25 while Krug is the Beacons' RBI leader at 13. Valpo's pitching staff is led by Sydney McDermott, who has tossed 53 complete innings for the Beacons while picking up a 5.94 ERA in 15 appearances.
Valpo is led by second-year head coach Meaggan Pettipiece who has picked up a 14-59 record with the Beacons.
Drake is 15-1 all-time against the Beacons, with the most recent results being a three-game sweep at Valparaiso in 2023.
Up Next
Drake will host a back-to-back midweek set with St. Thomas and Crieghton before hitting the road to Normal, Ilk. for a three-game weekend series with Illinois State.
