The Drake softball team bids for the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship beginning tomorrow when they open a three game series at third place Southern Illinois. The Bulldogs are 18-4 in the league race and trail Valley leader Illinois State by a half a game in the standings.

Drake coach Rich Calvert says it will be difficult, but they have had some success there in the past. Illinois State owns the tie breaker after taking two of three games from the Bulldogs during the regular season. Calvert says getting the second seed is the key going in so they can get a bye in the first round. To do that, they have to win 1 of 3 games.