DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake softball team began its weekend with a loss in the series opener against the UIC Flames by a score of 5-2 on Friday evening from Ron Buel Field.
 
Runs were on the board early between the Bulldogs and the Flames with both sides scoring one in their respective half of the first inning. A fielding error from Drake allowed UIC to plate its first run of the night and put the Flames ahead. The Bulldogs countered in the home half of the frame, however, which brought the game back even off a Sami Miller RBI double.
 
Following a scoreless second inning, the Flames reclaimed the lead in the third. Cameran Rios led off with a base knock through the right side and eventually moved up to third base after consecutive groundouts. Larissa Ortiz then brought Rios home with a single of her own.
 
In the fourth, a pair of errors by the Bulldogs dug the deficit even deeper as the Flames capitalized by scoring three runs in the inning to make it a 5-1 ballgame.
 
Drake's offense failed to produce any runs over the middle innings, but did get one run back in the sixth. Emma Dighton provided a quick spark with a leadoff solo shot marking her 10th home run of the season.
 
Dighton's homer proved to be the last offensive output of the game as the Bulldogs couldn't muster up a rally against UIC pitcher Jasmine Whorley, eventually falling, 5-2.
 
The Bulldogs totaled just four hits in the game compared to nine by the Flames from an offensive standpoint. On the defensive side, Drake committed three errors to just one for UIC.
 
Drake and UIC will be back on the diamond for a doubleheader tomorrow with the first game from Ron Buel Field starting at 1:30 p.m. Game two of the doubleheader will begin shortly after the conclusion of the first game. Both contests will be available to stream on ESPN+.