DES MOINES (May 1, 2021)
 
In Short
Skylar Rigby had two hits and drove in three runs and Nicole Timmons allowed only one run and three hits as host Drake (15-27, 9-12 MVC) captured a 5-1 victory over Loyola University Chicago (10-25, 6-13 MVC) this afternoon in game one of a doubleheader at Buel Field. The Ramblers are still seeking their first win against Drake at Buel Field since joining the Missouri Valley Conference in 2014.
 
How It Happened
Skylar Rigby's two-out double in the bottom of the first inning scored a pair of runs to put Drake on top early, 2-0, on a warm and sunny day in Iowa.
 
Loyola cut the deficit in half and scored for the first time in 20 innings in the top of the third inning on Amelia Thomas' one-out double that plated Allyson Ivey from first base, but Drake got that run back and added another, in its half of the third inning to push its advantage to 4-1. The Bulldogs used consecutive run-scoring singles from Rigby and Makayla Rice in the third inning to extend their advantage and steal momentum right back from Loyola.
 
Drake hung an insurance run on the board in the bottom half of the sixth inning thanks to Emily Valtman's RBI single to right field that brought home Libby Ryan, who had reached on a walk earlier in the frame.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Ruggles struck out 11 Bulldogs, the second time this season she has fanned double-digit batters, and allowed three earned runs for the Ramblers.
• Loyola mustered only three hits against Drake starter Nicole Timmons, who punched out eight Ramblers and allowed one earned run.
• Madison Ebeling had her 10-game hitting streak come to an end, but she did walk to extend her string of consecutive games reaching base safely to 11 contests. 

Up Next
Game two of today's doubleheader will begin at 2:30 p.m. CT.