DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake softball team played its final non-conference game of the season on Wednesday evening as it hosted the Iowa State Cyclones from Ron Buel Field and suffered a 7-3 loss to its in-state rival.
The Bulldogs found themselves in trouble early with a quick 3-0 deficit due to some Cyclone power in the first inning. Reagan Bartholomew went yard with a two-run homer in the second at-bat of the contest after Jessie Clemons started the game with a leadoff double for the Cyclones and one batter later Sydney Malott also went deep with a solo shot.
Following a scoreless second inning, Drake made a dent in the deficit and closed the gap to just one run. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with a trio of singles from
Lili Gonzalez,
Frankie Rita, and
Ava Husak and then pounced on a couple of miscues from ISU. A wild pitch brought in Gonzalez and on the throw to try and get her at the plate, the ball got away allowing Rita to race home for another run.
Iowa State immediately countered in the fourth, however, and regained its three-run advantage. It was Bartholomew doing the damage again for the Cyclones with a two-run double.
Drake continued to spray hits as the game moved along but couldn't muster up any type of rally to try and get back in the game. Meanwhile, Iowa State tacked on a couple of insurance runs in the fifth and in the seventh to stretch its lead out to 7-2.
In the bottom of the seventh,
Natalee Watts led off the frame with a solo blast to center field for the Bulldogs, but that proved to be the final run of the game as the rest of the Bulldogs went down in order.
Drake tallied eight hits in the game, but the Cyclones went for 12. Watts had the best day at the plate for the Bulldogs with a 3-for-3 performance and was just a triple shy of the cycle. Husak also had a multi-hit day going 2-for-3 with a double.
Drake will close out its season this weekend as it hosts Murray State for the final conference series of 2026. The Bulldogs and Racers begin the series on Friday with a doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m. followed by the finale on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Saturday also marks Senior Day for the Bulldogs where four seniors will be honored during a pregame ceremony.
