CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Drake University softball team suffered their second loss in as many games to UNI this season in a road rematch. The Bulldogs struck first but could not keep the Panthers off the board as UNI went on to win, 7-5.
 
Skylar Rigby singled down the left field line in the top of the first to bring Carey Koenig home and give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead. The Drake advantage did not last long, though, as Alexis Pupillo doubled in a run to knot the score at one apiece after the first frame.
 
The Panthers broke the stalemate in the second and third innings with a Drake error, a single, and an Addison McElrath homerun. UNI led 5-1 after three.
 
The Bulldogs battled back in the fourth inning with a MaKayla Rice single and a run off an Addie Lightner fielder's choice. UNI again answered with two more scores in their half of the fourth frame on homers by Daryn Lamprecht and Pupillo.
 
Trailing 7-3, the Bulldogs did their best to start another rally with a long ball of their own as Emma Dighton went yard to get back within two runs.
 
Neither team could remake their magic over the final two innings as UNI held on for the 7-5 victory.
 
Rigby led the Drake offense going 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Dighton went 1-for-3, her lone hit being a homerun, with two RBI and two runs.
 
Molly Hoekstra started and took the loss in the circle. She threw just two innings and fell to 9-4 overall.
 
The Bulldogs return home this weekend for a three-game set against Bradley from April 19-21.