DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake softball closed their 2023 regular season this afternoon with a contest against UIC. The Bulldogs (17-33, 10-17) celebrated a trio of seniors as Kristen Arias, Aubree Beitzinger, and Mackenzie Hupke were honored prior to first pitch. The Bulldogs faltered, however, as the UIC Flames (9-42, 7-20) left Des Moines with a 5-2 win on Sunday and a series victory.
 
The Flames got the scoring started after two slow innings to start the game. Larisa Villa turned on a Mackenzie Hupke offering and smashed her first career home run over the left field fence to put UIC up 1-0.
 
Drake countered in the bottom of the fourth when Sami Miller walked and was eventually driven in on a Kristen Arias groundout.
 
The Bulldogs threatened on several other occasions, but UIC took control with a Tess Altevers Harris RBI double in the fifth and two more runs in the top of the sixth on a Bulldog error. The Flames added their final run in the visitors' half of the seventh when Anna Walker doubled to the right-center gap to bring Alannah Cran all the way around from first.
 
Drake managed to get one step closer in the bottom of the seventh as Emma Dighton singled Emily Valtman home, but the Bulldogs rally was severed there, and the Flames earned the 5-2 victory.
 
Valtman led Drake at the dish, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Leadoff hitter Haylee Lehman also recorded multiple hits, going 2-for-4.
 
Mackenzie Hupke started and pitched 4.1 innings with eight strikeouts in her final game at Ron Buel Field but was replaced by Emma Dighton in the fifth inning. Dighton took the loss, dropping to 6-10 on the year after tossing 2.2 innings with two strikeouts and four runs allowed.
 
The Bulldogs will join the rest of the MVC teams in Carbondale, Ill. for their next outings. The Salukis are hosting the 2023 MVC Tournament from May 10-13. Drake, the No. 8 seed, will kick off the tournament against No. 9 seed Evansville in the first matchup of the event on Wednesday, May 10 at 10 a.m.