NORMAL, Ill. – The Drake University softball team saw their 2024 season come to an end on Wednesday afternoon with a first-round loss in the MVC Tournament. The No. 7 seed Bulldogs could not get their offense going in a 4-1 defeat to the No. 10 seed Evansville Purple Aces.
 
UE started the scoring in the second inning after a scoreless first as Alexa Davis singled through the right side to bring Hannah Hood home. The Aces added another run in the fourth frame as Marah Wood's groundout allowed Taylor Howe to come in safely.
 
Trailing 2-0, Skylar Rigby got the Bulldogs on the board in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single. Carey Koenig scored on the play for what ended up being the Dogs' lone run of the game.
 
An inning later, Hood added the final blow with a two-RBI single that drove Zoe Frossard and Jess Willsey in. The Purple Aces held on to their 4-1 lead despite a short rally by Drake in the final stanza to advance to the second round.
 
Koenig went 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored to lead the Bulldog offense. Freshman shortstop Frankie Rita went 2-for-4. In the circle, Molly Hoekstra finished her season 13-7 after taking the loss. She threw four innings and fanned two in the season finale.
 
In Lindsay Diehl's first season in Des Moines, Drake ended its year 23-26 overall and 11-13 in MVC play.
 
Evansville will advance to take on No. 2 seed UNI tomorrow afternoon in Normal.