After a three-game series sweep of Oklahoma State, the ISU softball team (17-19, 3-3 Big 12) hopes to continue its winning streak against Drake (21-14, 7-3 MVC) on April 9, 2013.

The Cyclones will host the Bulldogs at the new Cyclone Sports Complex before traveling to Des Moines to play on April 10.

Last season, the teams split the home-and-home series. The Cyclones won in Ames 1-0 on a shutout pitching performance by Taylor Smith but fell in Des Moines 8-6 in a game in which both teams combined for 21 hits.

“We are just going to take the way we’ve played these past three days and bring it to Drake,” said senior first baseman Erica Miller. “We talked about making this level of play be our normal. If we clean up the defense a little bit, we should be successful.”

Both teams are riding small winning streaks into this matchup with Iowa State riding a three-game and Drake with two.

Sarah Hawryluk was the driving force of the ISU offense during the OSU series, hitting .600 (6-for-10) driving in two runs, scoring four and stealing four bases.

Bulldogs Amy Pierce and Macie Silliman have had great successes on the base path. The two players are a combined 34-for-34 in stolen base attempts this season.

The Cyclones are hitting .312 this season with runners on base, but the average jumps to .328 with runners in scoring position and explodes to .521 when the bases are full.

“We just have to keep our foot on the accelerator,” said ISU coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler. “Hopefully, if we can get out in front early and not look back, we should be set.”

The Cyclones are 14-3 when their foes score five or fewer runs and 16-3 when a game is tied or when they lead after four innings.

Iowa State leads the all-time series with Drake 70-18.

First pitch for April 9 is scheduled for 4 p.m. CDT at the Cyclone Sports Complex.