The Basics 
Drake softball will finally return to action after poor weather forced the cancellation of their previously scheduled series with Valparaiso and non-conference tilt with St. Thomas.
 
The Bulldogs are now set for a home matchup with Creighton tomorrow evening and will travel to Normal, Ill. for a three-game series at Illinois State from Mar. 29-31.
 
Bulldogs by the Numbers 
Due to their schedule changes, Drake has maintained their records of 11-13 overall and 0-3 in conference play. The Bulldogs have spent a week off after their cancellations and postponement with their most recent matchup coming last Tuesday. Drake took down Western Illinois in a comeback effort on Mar. 19.
 
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 Creighton
The Bluejays enter the week with an 18-13 overall record and an even 3-3 record in Big East competition. Creighton has gone 1-3 over their last four matchups including a series loss at Seton Hall and an extra-inning defeat at Kansas City.
 
Creighton's offense is led by a duo of .300+ hitters in Cayla Nielsen and Madeline Vejvoda. Nielsen bats at a .311 clip with team highs in doubles (8) and hits (32). She is also the second-leading scorer on the team with 16 runs. Vejvoda, a .308 hitter, is also slugging .374 and has a .343 on-base percentage.
 
Natalia Puchino and Kenzie Schopfer lead a limited Creighton pitching staff. Puchino has thrown 89.2 innings for the Bluejays, the most by a wide margin. She leads the team with a 1.87 earned run average, 86 K's, three saves, and a 12-2 record. Schopfer has logged a respectable 3.85 ERA and has pitched 52.2 frames.
 
Krista Wood is in her second season at the helm of the Creighton softball team. She has posted a 40-44 record with the Bluejays and a 548-361 record in 18 years as a collegiate head coach.
 
Creighton leads the all-time series with Drake, 20-13. The Bulldogs have won the last two meetings including a 9-0 win in Omaha last season. The last matchup in Des Moines went the way of the Bluejays with a 4-0 result in 2016.
 
Scouting Illinois State
Illinois State is currently 9-22 overall and has an even 3-3 record in conference play. The Redbirds won their most recent contest as part of a series win over Murray State. Illinois State has alternate wins and losses over their last seven games. The Redbirds will meet up with rival Bradley for a Wednesday double-header before hosting Drake in Normal.
 
Delainey Bryant has been the premier bat for the Redbirds. She leads the team with a .340 average, .530 slugging percentage, 17 runs scored, 34 hits, six doubles, three homers, 53 total bases, five stolen bases, and 100 at bats. Bryant is also second on the team with 12 walks, behind only Jayden Standish's 14.
 
Paige McLeod and Hannah Meshnick have been ISU's top two arms this season. McLeod leads the staff with five wins, 41 strikeouts, and a 2.35 ERA. Meshnick has posted a 4.53 ERA with four wins to her credit. Both pitchers have tosses over 80 innings this year.
 
Tina Kramos is in her second year leading the Redbirds. She has amassed a 39-44 mark at Illinois State.
 
Drake also trails in the all-time series with Illinois State, 28-21. The Redbirds have also won six of the last seven meetings with Drake's only win coming in Normal in 2022.
 
Up Next 
Next week, Drake will have another mid-week non-MVC matchup at Iowa on Apr. 2 before hosting Evansville from Apr. 5-7.