CARBONDALE, ILL. - - Drake senior Kristin Birocci (Des Moines, Iowa) blasted a two-out first pitch three run home run in the third inning to propel Drake to a 3-1 lead which proved to be the difference as the Drake softball team earned their first State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Softball Tournament Championship since 1994, 7-2, over No. 7 seeded Missouri State.

“I am proud for the players and I am especially proud of the seniors and what they meant to the season that we have had,” said Drake head coach Rich Calvert.

Sophomore Carrie Hatfield (Des Moines, Iowa) hit the Bulldogs' first hit of the game, a bloop single to left field before senior Marilyn Buss (West Des Moines, Iowa) was walked to set the table for Birocci.

The third inning rally continued when senior Jaci Faidley (Colfax, Iowa) scored after stealing second on an RBI single to right field by senior Susan Slycord (West Des Moines, Iowa) moving Drake's lead to 4-1.

“It was nice to see us come out and put three runs on the board after they scored a run, it put the momentum back in our dugout,” said Calvert

After scoring the last run of the top of the third Faidley made a spectacular diving catch at second base, pinning the ball between her body and her arm for the second out of the inning.

The Bears threatened in the bottom of the third with two runners on but Drake pitcher Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn.) grabbed a pop-out by Missouri State pitcher Melissa Porche to end the inning.

Ashley Knehans cut into Drake's lead 4-2 in the fourth inning when she hit a lead off home run over the left field fence.

Dordel limited the damage in the fourth by striking out Elysha Swider and throwing out Christa Gammon on a ground out. Sophomore shortstop Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa) made a fully extended catch on a pop out while running away to end the frame.

Missouri State loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth inning but Dordel struck out Jana Shewmaker to end the Bears' threat.

“To keep them off the board in the sixth when they threatened was a big turning point in the game,” said Calvert. It allowed us to come into the seventh a little more relaxed and get those three extra runs that we definitely needed.”

Drake added three insurance runs in the seventh inning when freshman Jenna DeLong (Chanhassen, Minn.) singled to lead off the inning. Sophomore Kelsey Kahler (North Liberty, Iowa) reached on a fielder's choice before Hatfield reached on a fielder's choice and DeLong scored on a fielding error. Buss then doubled to clear the bases and take a 7-2 lead for the Bulldogs.

In the bottom of the seventh, Dordel struck out Knehans with the bases loaded to end the game.

Dordel, who was named tournament Most Valuable Player, allowed only two hits while striking out six batters, earning her 19th win of the season.

Dordel was joined on the all-tournament team by Buss, Faidley and Birocci.

“Brynne hung in there and gutted it out all the way through,” commented Calvert.

With the win Drake improved to 29-24 overall, which is the highest win total for the Bulldogs since 2004.

Drake will await their pairings for the upcoming NCAA Softball Tournament. Selections will be made on ESPNU at 9 p.m. Sunday. It marks the first time since 1994 that the Bulldogs will make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.