DES MOINES, Iowa – Indiana State softball won both games of a doubleheader against Drake on Saturday at Buel Field to complete a three-game sweep of the Bulldogs.
 
The Sycamores (17-12, 6-0) won 5-2 in game one while taking game two 8-5 over Drake (6-20, 0-6) to sweep their second-straight conference sweep to remain undefeated in the Missouri Valley.
 
Game One
Indiana State broke a scoreless tie in the third inning as Danielle Henning drove in Abi Chipps to put ISU up 1-0.
 
Drake would take over the lead in the fourth inning, scoring a pair of runs on RBI doubles to go up 2-1 over the Trees.
 
In the top of the fifth, Indiana State got RBI from Olivia Patton and Kennedy Shade to retake the lead, going up 3-2.
 
Annie Tokarek would put the game away for the Sycamores in the seventh, driving in Kennedy Shade and Isabella Henning with a double to make it a 5-2 game.
 
Cassi Newbanks started for ISU and went 3.1 innings, allowing two runs while striking out a pair. Hailey Griffin replaced her and went 2.1 scoreless to earn her second win of the season. Lauren Sackett closed out the game for the Sycamores, working 1.1 innings en route to her third save of the season.
 
The Sycamores finished with nine hits, led by Isabella Henning who went 3-for-4 for the game.
 
Game Two
Annie Tokarek got the Sycamores off to a quick start in game two, launching a three-run home run to put Indiana State in front 3-0.
 
Cassie Thomerson and Kaylee Barrett extended the lead to 5-0 in the third with a sacrifice fly and a single, respectively. Drake got a run back in the bottom half of the frame, making it a 5-1 game after three complete frames.
 
In the top of the fourth, Annie Tokarek and TeAnn Bringle each drove in a run to increase the Sycamore lead to 7-1. Tokarek would drive in her fifth RBI of the game in the sixth to put ISU up 8-1.
 
Drake would score four runs over the final two frames to make it 8-5 but Indiana State held on for the victory and completed the series sweep.
 
Indiana State finished with 12 hits as team, getting multi-hit games from Isabella Henning, Kennedy Shade, Annie Tokarek and Cassie Thomerson. Lexi Benko continued her stellar campaign, improving her record to to 8-3 with 5.2 innings of work with four strikeouts. She allowed three runs on four hits. Hailey Griffin threw 1.1 innings of relief.
 
Up Next
Indiana State will head to Illinois on Wednesday, March 29  for a doubleheader against the Illini beginning at 5 p.m. ET.

For the latest information on Sycamore Softball, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.