Box Score DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University softball team started their final 2024 regular season series with an offensive struggle against one of the top pitchers in the league. The Bulldogs could not crack the code written by Belmont ace Maya Johnson as the Bruins earned a 4-0 win.
 
Neither team could get any offense going until Belmont (30-17) struck in the top half of the fourth. Emily Cockrill singled to left to bring Abi Ledbetter home. Later, in the sixth, Brenna Blume homered to add another run. Blume drove two more insurance runs in with a double in the seventh to reach the final 4-0 tally.
 
The Drake (21-25) offense was sat down in order through the fourth as Belmont recorded 12-straight outs to start the contest, eight of which came via strikeout. Abby Martin logged the Bulldogs' lone hit of the evening in the fifth with a lead-off single, but the hosts could not rally from there.
 
Despite losing her perfect game effort, Johnson went the distance to improve to 16-5 for the Bruins. She fanned 14 batters to match her career high.
 
Molly Hoekstra countered with a solid outing in the circle for Drake, throwing all seven innings and striking out three, but still took the defeat. The loss moved her record to 12-6 overall.
 
The Bulldogs and Bruins will continue their series tomorrow at Ron Buel Field. First pitch is currently scheduled for 2 p.m.