DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake Bulldog softball team (6-20, 0-6) finished up their weekend series with the Sycamores of Indiana State (17-12, 6-0) this afternoon in Des Moines. Indiana State swept Saturday's action to complete the series sweep as Drake failed to notch its first league win of the season.
Indiana State 5, Drake 2
After playing two scoreless innings to start the day, Indiana State broke through first when Danielle Henning singled to plate Abi Chipps.
Drake bounced back and took their first lead of the series in the next inning when
Skylar Rigby and
MaKayla Rice smacked back-to-back RBI doubles to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 advantage.
The Sycamores answered in the top of the fifth inning with another single from Olivia Patton and an RBI fielder's choice from Kennedy Shade to reclaim the lead. Later, the Sycamores added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh on an Annie Tokarek double to reach the final 5-2 tally.
Hailey Griffin improved to 2-0 on the season after earning the win in 2.1 innings of relief work. Indiana State's Lauren Sackett also pitched 1.1 innings in relief and collected her third save of the season.
Paige Bedsworth started and took the loss for Drake after going four full innings in the circle.
Indiana State 8, Drake 5
Offense was much more plentiful in the series finale as both teams were able to rack up runs. The Sycamores started early again as Tokarek belted a three-run blast over the left field fence to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
The Sycamores added to their lead with two more runs in the top of the third when Cassie Thomerson delivered a sacrifice fly and Kaylee Barrett drove one in with a single.
The Bulldogs responded with an RBI double by
Emily Valtman to make it 5-1 in favor of Indiana State. The visitors continued their offensive display in the fourth frame, tallying three more runs on a Tokarek fielder's choice and TeAnn Bringle single. Tokarek came through again in the sixth inning as Valtman grounded out to score
Emma Dighton. Rigby then singled to right center to trim the Sycamores' lead to just five.
The Bulldogs got even closer in the bottom of the seventh when Dighton blasted a towering home run to score a pair. Drake could not complete their comeback effort, though, as Hailey Griffin shut the door and gave Indiana State the 8-5 victory.
Lexi Benko improved to 8-3 with the win in the circle, going 5.2 innings and striking out four Bulldogs.
Jayme Scheck started for Drake and earned the loss, falling to 1-3, after allowing four hits and four earned runs.
The Bulldogs will travel to Omaha, Neb. for a mid-week matchup with Creighton on Wednesday, Mar. 29 before hosting Murray State next weekend for their next MVC action.
