NORMAL, Ill. – The Drake softball team wrapped up its first conference series of the season on Saturday afternoon and dropped the third game of the series to Illinois State by a score of 11-3 in six innings.
 
The Bulldogs faced an early deficit to start the afternoon with the Redbirds scoring four runs in the first inning. Illinois State went yard twice with a solo home run and a two-run blast, along with an RBI groundout to grab the lead.
 
After Illinois State added a run in the third inning off another RBI groundout, the Bulldog offense finally gained some momentum in the fifth. Drake had been held to just one hit through the first four innings, but used three consecutive singles from Natalee Watts, Ava Husak, and Haley Schroeder to load the bases. From there the Bulldogs cut into the deficit and made the score 5-2 due to a walked in run and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Frankie Rita.
 
The Bulldogs' momentum carried over into the sixth as they got another run back to make the score 5-3. Schroeder picked up her second hit of the day with another base knock and Watts raced home from second to score.
 
The momentum Drake built was ultimately dashed in the home half of the sixth, however. Illinois State responded with a six-run frame, which brought an end to the contest due to the run-rule with the score now at 11-3.
 
The Redbird offense exploded with an RBI triple followed by three consecutive home runs, a two-run shot and a pair of solo homers, which made it 10-3. After two more base hits, a double into the gap by Lauren Flowers scored the final run.
 
Drake will return home for a midweek game to host Western Illinois on Tuesday, March 17. First pitch from Buel Field is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT.