The Drake softball team enters the final week of the regular season in the thick of the Missouri Valley Conference championship race. The Bulldogs are 18-4 and trail Valley leader Illinois State by a half a game in the standings. Drake visits Kansas on Thursday and closes the regular season this weekend with a three game series at Southern Illinois.

Drake coach Rich Calvert says it’s fun to practice every day as they are playing for something, and especially for the senior leaders.. Senior pitcher Brynne Dordel was named the Valley pitcher of the week after she posted a 1-0 record and tossed eight and two-thirds scoreless innings.

Calvert says Dordel has been there the last four years and would probably say this has not been her best year as she has given up some key hits at the end of ballgames. Dordel is 11-10 this season and Calvert says she is hoping for a strong finish to what has been an outstanding career.

Calvert says Dordel has had a lot of big games for them and is always somebody that they can count on when they need it.

Drake is 32-18 overall