DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake softball and head coach Lindsay Diehl have announced the entire slate for the upcoming 2026 season.
 
The Bulldogs' full schedule features 56 contests including four non-conference tournaments, 28 Missouri Valley Conference games, and 19 total games from Ron Buel Field.
 
Drake begins its 2026 campaign Feb. 6-8 at the Rosemont Dome Tournament from Rosemont, Illinois. The Bulldogs will square off against the likes of Detroit, Oakland, Western Illinois and will play two contests against Green Bay.
 
The next tournament Drake will participate in will be the Bear Down Fiesta, Feb. 12-14, from Tucson, Arizona. The Bulldogs have five games in total against host institution and 2025 NCAA Tournament participant Arizona, Creigton, Coastal Carolina, another NCAA Tournament team from last season, and Utah Valley.
 
Next up is another loaded field for the Mizzou Invitational, Feb.27-March 1, from Columbia, Missouri. The Bulldogs will face another NCAA Tournament qualifier from last season, Miami (OH), twice along with two games against Wichita State and a single showdown with Missouri.
 
Drake closes out its tournament portion of the schedule with a trip out to Colorado, March 6-8. There the Bulldogs will take on Colorado State twice, South Dakota State twice, and Northern Colorado once.
 
After tournament play, the Bulldogs will take the to the diamond at Ron Buel Field for its home opener with a doubleheader versus St. Thomas (MN) on March 11.
 
MVC play kicks off for Drake a couple days later with a three-game road trip at Illinois State (3/13-14).
 
Following a home midweek contest with Western Illinois (3/17), the Bulldogs will hit the road again for a series against UIC (3/20-21).
 
The month of March closes out with a short trip up I-35 to challenge Iowa State from Ames (3/27), a home series versus Evansville (3/27-28), and a MVC doubleheader as Bradley comes to town (3/31).
 
As the calendar flips to April, Drake will travel to the Music City, Nashville, Tenn., and play reigning MVC Champions Belmont the weekend of April 3-4. The Bulldogs then open a four-game homestand against Creighton (4/8), the third meeting of the season with the Bluejays, and Southern Illinois (4/10-11).
 
The inner-state showdown with rival UNI will take place from Cedar Falls this season on April 14 in a doubleheader. Following the trip to UNI, Drake welcomes Valparaiso for a weekend series (4/17-18).
 
Drake's final road trips include a non-conference doubleheader against South Dakota (4/21) and a trip to Terre Haute, Ind., to face the Indiana State Sycamores (4/24-25).
 
The Bulldogs end the regular season with four-straight games from Des Moines with a rematch against Iowa State (4/29) and the final MVC series of the season against Murray State (5/1-2).
 
The MVC Championship will take place from Carbondale, Ill., May 6-9, with the field being comprised of the top-six teams.
 
2026 Drake Softball Schedule
Feb. 6-8                     at Rosemont Dome Tournament
Feb. 12-14                 at Bear Down Fiesta
Feb. 27-March 1        at Mizzou Invitational
March 6-8                  at Colorado State Tournament
March 11                   vs St. Thomas (DH)
March 13-14              at Illinois State*
March 17                   vs Western Illinois
March 20-21              at UIC*
March 25                   at Iowa State
March 27-28              vs Evansville*
March 31                   vs Bradley (DH)*
April 3-4                     at Belmont*
April 8                        vs Creighton
April 10-11                 vs Southern Illinois*
April 14                      at UNI (DH)*
April 17-18                 vs Valparaiso*
April 21                      at South Dakota (DH)
April 24-25                 at Indiana State*
April 29                      vs Iowa State
May 1-2                     vs Murray State*
 
*= MVC contest