The Basics 
The Drake softball team is back at Buel Field this weekend to host the Valparaiso Beacons for a conference series. The Bulldogs and Beacons will take to the diamond for a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 2:00 p.m. and close out the series on Sunday with a single contest at 2:00 p.m. The original series was scheduled to be played on Friday and Saturday but due to forecasted weather it was pushed back a day.
  
Bulldogs by the Numbers 
Drake comes into the series with an overall record of 10-30 and is 4-15 in conference play. The Bulldogs are coming off a split doubleheader against in-state rival UNI, which was played from Cedar Falls on Monday. The Bulldogs took game one of the twin bill, 14-5, but lost game two, 18-1, in five innings.
 
The Bulldogs offense exploded in game one against the Panthers setting a season-high with 14 runs. It marked the most runs for a Drake team since a 14-2 victory over Western Illinois on March 25, 2025. Drake launched six home runs in the win over UNI, which marked a program record for most home runs hit in a single game. The six long balls hit by Drake against UNI are tied for 19th in Division I for most home runs hit in a game this season. Doing most of the damage was Tatum Aragon who hit three of the homers for Drake. Aragon's output of three deep shots is tied for the most home runs by a single player in a game in all of Division I this season. It was also her first three homers of the season.
 
Peyton Driscoll has performed well in her last two outings from the circle earning the win in both appearances. She tossed a complete game in the first game against UNI on Monday and set a career-high with eight strikeouts against the potent Panther lineup.

Scouting Valparaiso
The Beacons sit just above the Bulldogs in the current MVC standings with a league record of 4-14 and have gone 16-25 overall on the season. Valpo is in the midst of a five-game losing streak after being swept by league leaders Belmont last weekend and dropping a midweek doubleheader to UIC on Tuesday.
 
Madison Vrastil poses a threat at the plate for the Beacons leading the team with a .368 batting average. Vrastil also leads the Beacons in hits (50), runs scored (32), doubles (11), stolen bases (21). Her 21 bag swipes are tied for the lead league in the MVC.
 
Valpo's pitching staff boasts a team ERA of 5.10 and is mainly comprised behind the arms of Caitlyn Quickle, Sydney McDermott, and Azalya Lopez. McDermott has made the most appearances (30) and starts (21) for the Beacons and owns a record of 8-10 with a 4.44 ERA. In 93.0 innings of work, McDermott has tallied 91 strikeouts compared to 42 walks.
 
Drake has dominated the all-time series against Valpo owning a record of 20-3 against the Beacons. The Beacons did win the season series in 2025, however, taking two of three contests. Valpo's two wins over Drake last season snapped a 15-game winning the Bulldogs had over the Beacons.
 
Up Next 
Drake will travel to Vermillion, South Dakota on Tuesday, April 21 and take on the South Dakota Coyotes in a midweek contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.