Des Moines, Iowa – The Drake softball team picked up its fourth consecutive win and second consecutive Missouri Valley Conference series win on Saturday afternoon as it defeated the Illinois State Redbirds in game two of a weekend series from Ron Buel Field, 2-1.
 
The Bulldogs got the jump on the Redbirds early on as they took the lead in the first inning. Freshman Ava Curry led the frame off with a base knock through the left side and eventually advanced to third after a couple of groundouts. This made way for Tatum Aragon to drive in Curry with a base hit of her own and put the score at 1-0.
 
From that point on, the offenses were limited on both sides. Sophomore starting pitcher for Drake, Peyton Driscoll, kept the Illinois State bats in-check all afternoon not allowing a run on the board through six innings of play. Driscoll only allowed two hits to the Redbird offense over that span as well with the Bulldog defense behind her making multiple plays in the field.
 
In the sixth, Drake tacked on a key insurance run to increase its lead to 2-0. With a runner in scoring position at second base, Carey Koenig delivered with a single to center to record her second big RBI of the series.
 
Koenig's RBI base knock in the sixth proved to be vital as the Redbirds started to mount a rally in the seventh. A pinch-hit RBI single Saveea Freeland brought it back to a one-run contest, but Driscoll got back in her groove and struck out Marissa Moffett to end the game and secure the win.
 
Five different Bulldogs recorded a hit in the contest with Aragon and Koenig driving in the runs. Heidi Wheeler tallied two hits for Drake and was the only player on either side to record multiple hits.
 
Driscoll went the distance in the circle for Drake and earned her second win of the season. She allowed just four hits, one earned run, and one walk to go along with three strikeouts against the Redbirds.
 
Drake will go for the series sweep in the finale from Ron Buel Field tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is slated for noon CT and the game will be available to stream on ESPN+.