The Basics
The Drake softball team is back on the road for another Missouri Valley Conference series this weekend as it heads to Chicago to face the UIC Flames. The Bulldogs and Flames will play a doubleheader on Friday starting at 2:30 p.m. and close out the series on Saturday with a single game at 2 p.m.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
The Bulldogs currently carry an overall record of 6-16 and are 0-3 in the conference after opening its MVC slate last weekend at Illinois State. The Bulldogs were swept by the Redbirds last weekend and will look to get back on track against the Flames after being outscored 27-8 against Illinois State. The Bulldogs have yet to play a home game this year as weather has caused multiple postponements and in true road contests Drake is just 1-8 this season.
Junior
Frankie Rita leads Drake in hitting over the first month and half with a batting average of .361. She hit her first home run of the season last weekend against Illinois State and her .361 hitting clip currently ranks 17th in the MVC. Four other Bulldogs are also hitting above .300, while the team is collectively hitting .281.
From the pitching circle, the staff has a collective ERA of 6.49, which ranks ninth in the MVC and has tallied 55 strikeouts over 22 games.
Jayme Scheck leads the team with a 4.85 ERA over her 12 appearances, and she also leads the Bulldogs with 21 strikeouts.
Scouting UIC
The Flames boast an overall record of 12-14-1 and have played two conference series already and are 2-4 in those contests. The Flames have gone up against Belmont and Indiana State in MVC play with both series on the road. This weekend will mark the first home games for UIC this season.
The Flames' top hitter this season has been junior infielder Cameran Rios. The Effingham, Illinois native is currently hitting at a clip of .398 to go along with six doubles, two triples, two home runs, and 14 RBI. UIC is also seeing production from
Sam Tourtillott, who spent last season at Drake. Tourtillott ranks second on UIC with a .333 batting average and leads the Flames with seven doubles.
The Flames mainly rely on two arms when it comes to pitching in Jasmine Whorley and Trinity Brandhorst. In 21 appearances with 15 starts, Whorley posts a record of 10-6 and an ERA of 4.43. She has tossed six complete games over 93.1 innings over work and has tallied 46 strikeouts. Brandhorst, meanwhile, is 2-4 over 15 appearances with a 7.66 ERA in 45.2 innings.
Drake and UIC have matched up just 10 prior times with the record sitting at an even 5-5 in the all-time series. The Bulldogs won the season series last season taking two of three contests from Des Moines. In games played from the Windy City, Drake is 2-1 all-time against the Flames.
Up Next
Drake is slated to challenge in-state foe Iowa State from Ames on Wednesday, March 25 for its next contest following the UIC series. First pitch against the Cyclones is set for 4 p.m.
