Des Moines, Iowa – The Drake softball team saw its four-game winning streak come to an end on Sunday afternoon with a 15-5 loss to the Illinois State Redbirds at Ron Buel Field.
 
The Bulldogs began the game with a strong start and took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Ava Curry continued to see the ball well at the plate and led off with a double to left and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch. Tatum Aragon scored the second run of the frame off an RBI base hit back up the middle from sophomore Natalee Watts.
 
Illinois State got one run back in the second with an RBI single from Ella Boyer, but the Bulldogs responded in their half with three runs to increase the lead to 5-1. Aragon supplied the first score with an RBI double and then Drake capitalized on an Illinois State error with some good base running, which plated two more.
 
The momentum of the game completely shifted in the third inning, however, as the Illinois State bats woke up. The Redbirds proceeded to score five runs in the inning to jump ahead, 6-5, and never relinquished the lead from there.
 
Illinois State added on to its lead scoring four runs in the fourth and five runs in the fifth to enact the run the rule after five innings of play.
 
The Redbirds tallied up 18 hits in the contest against the Drake pitching staff, whereas the Bulldogs totaled six hits.
 
Curry provided most of the offense for Drake going 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of doubles and two runs scored.
 
Drake returns to action with another home game on Tuesday, April 8 against in-state rival UNI. First pitch from Ron Buel Field is set for 5:00 p.m. with the game being available to stream on ESPN+.