CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Drake softball team put an end to its 14-game losing streak against UNI on Wednesday night defeating the Panthers in a back-and-forth battle, 12-11, from the Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex.
 
The Bulldogs gained an early advantage over the Panthers with the top third of the order providing productive at-bats. Ava Curry led off the game with a base hit and scored moments later due to a double in the gap to right center by Emma Dighton. Sami Miller then stepped up to the plate and smacked a two-run homer over the left field wall making the score 3-0.
 
UNI got one run back in the bottom of the first, but Drake continued its offensive outburst over the third and fourth innings scoring three runs in each frame to extend its lead.
 
A fielding error from the Panthers allowed the first Bulldog run to cross the plate in the third, which kept the inning alive as there were two outs at the time. With some extra life given, Frankie Rita took advantage of the opportunity and sent a pitch over the wall for Drake's second two-run shot of the game.
 
In the fourth, the Bulldogs made it an 8-0 ballgame getting the job done with a pair of doubles. Miller continued to see the ball well at the plate and hit the first two-bagger, which scored Curry. Up next was Tatum Aragon who followed in Miller's footsteps with a double of her own to score two more.
 
The game then took a turn in the bottom of the fourth. Drake saw its eight-run lead vanish as the Panthers rallied to tie the game up. The rally was started with an RBI single followed by a bases loaded walk, another RBI single, a two-RBI double, and was eventually capped by a three-run home run.
 
After seeing their eight-run lead disappear, the Bulldogs regained their composure and reclaimed the lead scoring three more runs in the top of the fifth. With two runners on, Sam Tourtillott plated the first run off Drake's sixth double of the contest. A pinch-hit sacrifice fly by Logan Kelley brought home the second score and a hard-hit groundout off the bat of Curry allowed Tourtillott to race home putting the score at 12-9.
 
The Panthers scored one run in the bottom of the fifth before the sixth inning went scoreless. The scoreless sixth inning along with the second inning were the only two frames that didn't see any scoring in the contest.
 
With the Bulldogs holding on to their two-run lead in the bottom of the seventh, UNI threatened with another rally. Drake recorded the first two outs, but a fielding error kept the Panthers' hopes alive.
 
UNI cut Drake's lead down to one following an RBI base hit, which also put two runners in scoring position and a walk proceeded to load the bases. The Bulldogs escaped their way out of the jam as the final out of the ballgame was made on a sliding catch in left field by Aragon.
 
Eight Bulldogs recorded a hit in the game as Drake racked up 13 hits against the Panthers' pitching staff. Miller led the way going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a homer to go along with three RBI.
 
Paige Bedsworth, who came on in relief, was credited with the win for her seventh of the season. She finished with a final line of 4.0 innings pitched, one earned run allowed off five hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.
 
Drake heads back to Des Moines for its next slate of games as it hosts UIC for a three-game series this weekend, April 18-20. First pitch for Friday's opener from Ron Buel Field is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.