The Basics
The Drake softball team returns to the diamond after a week off for another non-conference early season tournament at the Mizzou Invitational, hosted by the University of Missouri, Feb. 27-March 1, from Columbia, Missouri. The Bulldogs will play five games over the weekend against Wichita State, Miami (OH), and Missouri.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake comes into the weekend with an overall record of 4-6 after its first two tournaments of the year at the Rosemont Dome Tournament and the Bear Down Fiesta. The Bulldogs went 4-1 at the Rosemont Dome Tournament on opening weekend but went 0-5 down in Arizona at the Bear Down Fiesta. Despite dropping all five games at the Bear Down Fiesta, three of those results were decided by just one run.
Drake has seen early production from some of its freshmen as three of its top four hitters are from that class.
Kiley Kindelspire leads the Bulldogs with a batting average of .378, while
Pearson Hall is hitting at a clip of .351 and
Malea Yoxsimer posts an average of .333. Kindelspire also ranks second on the team in home runs (2) and RBI (10).
The player that has been providing the power for Drake in the early portion of the season has been junior
Natalee Watts. She has already tallied five long balls this year, which leads Drake and is tied for third among players in the Missouri Valley Conference. She also leads the Bulldogs with 11 RBI and is second on the team in batting average at .360. Watts has nine hits in 25 at-bats so far this season and eight of those hits have gone for extra bases as she also has a pair of doubles and a triple to her ledger.
Scouting the Competition
Wichita State heads into the weekend on a hot streak after going a perfect 5-0 at the Boerner Invitational last weekend. The Shockers defeated South Dakota, UT Arlington, and Creighton during the tournament to improve their overall record to 8-5 on the season. Wichita has faced its fair share of tough competition already this season playing against multiple Power Conference teams including Arkansas, Baylor, Clemson, and Mississippi State. The Shockers were picked to finish third in American Conference this year and feature a roster of seven returners and 14 newcomers.
The RedHawks of Miami Ohio are also riding a five-game win streak coming into the Mizzou Invitational and have gone 10-4 overall so far this season. Miami has already tallied three wins over Power Conference teams defeating Minnesota twice and besting Iowa. Two of the RedHawks' losses have come against SEC members Kentucky and Ole Miss and both contests were decided by one run. Miami was picked to win the MAC this season after winning the league last year and earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament where it won one game in the regional round. Miami currently ranks 14th in D1Softball.com's mid-major rankings.
Host institution Missouri has gotten off to a bit of slower start in 2026, but has faced stiff competition playing six opponents who were ranked or receiving votes in the national polls. The Tigers are 5-11 overall and will look to kick a two-game skid on their home turf. Playing in the loaded SEC, the Tigers were picked to finish 14th in the preseason poll, but the roster is highlighted by senior outfielder Emma Jackson who was named to Softball America's Preseason Top 100 player list, ranking in at No. 83.
Up Next
Drake will head out west for its final non-conference tournament of the 2026 season for the Colorado State Tournament from Fort Collins and Greely, Colorado, March 6-8.
