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Drake tops Missouri State to claim first tournament title in 14 years

BY GEARY DENISTON, For the Southern

Saturday, May 10, 2008 11:14 PM CDT

CARBONDALE - Two big innings and the clutch pitching of Missouri Valley Conference Tournament MVP and Newcomer of the Year Brynne Dordel led the Drake Bulldogs to its first State Farm MVC tournament plaque in 14 years with a 7-2 win over Missouri State Saturday afternoon.

"Fortunately we came up with some big at-bats that put a lot of momentum on our side," Drake coach Rich Calvert said. "Byrnne never ceases to amaze me when she gets into jams she comes up with the right pitch to get out of it."

Drake (29-24) came into the season picked to finish ninth in the pre-season poll and was seeded fourth in the tournament after finishing the regular season by winning five of its last six games including taking the season ending series against Wichita State 2-1.

The win marks the first time Drake will be competing in the NCAA Tournament since it last won the MVC Tournament in 1994. The win also continued a great year for the school from Des Moines, Iowa in which the men's basketball team came out of nowhere to win the regular season MVC title.

"We talked about the men's basketball season at the beginning of the year," Calvert said. "We brought up we were picked ninth and they were picked ninth. Togetherness and senior leadership is what made them winners and it's the same with us."

Dordel (19-10) had to pitch out of trouble during the first four innings, but had an easy fifth setting down the side in order for the first time on only seven pitches. The freshman then walked the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth, but got out of the inning by striking out pinch-hitter Jana Shewmaker.

"I have a tendency to over-pitch and that was what was happening in the sixth," Dordel said. "I just had to relax and not over think. Just to get out of that inning without being scored upon kept our momentum going. If they had scored just one run might have changed the outcome."

Dordel had to get out of a base loaded situation again in the seventh caused by a lead off single, a pop out to first, and two more base hits. The right-hander closed out her 16th complete game by getting starting pitcher Melissa Porsche to pop out to first and striking out first baseman Ashley Knehans, who had hit a home run in the fourth.

"Brynne was one batter from being pulled in the seventh," Calvert said. "If she hadn't gotten Porsche then I would have went to Mandy Osborne."

Seventh seed Missouri State (28-22) took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on a one-out error by the Bulldog shortstop and a two-out triple by designated player Christa Gammon.

All-Tournament pitcher Porsche (19-16) began the game strong setting down the first eight batters in order including the first two batters in the third inning on four pitches.

The ninth batter in the lineup - third baseman Carrie Hatfield - starting the game-winning rally with a bloop single to left over the outreached glove of the Bears' All-Tournament shortstop Jessie Smith.

Porsche then walked All-Tournament first baseman Marilyn Buss on five pitches. All-Tournament center fielder Kristin Birocci was up next and smacked the first pitch over the left field fence for her fifth home run of the season.

"She had been getting ahead of the batters by throwing inside and my last at-bat she started me in as well," Birocci said. "So I was thinking she would start me inside again and she threw me an inside screwball."

All-Tournament second baseman Jaci Faidley continued the rally with a bloop single to right and after stealing second scored the fourth run of the inning when catcher Susan Slycord hit a bloop fly that popped out of the glove of right fielder Tyler Porter when she dove to make the catch.

Missouri State cut the lead to 4-2 on a lead off home run by Knehans in the fourth inning and had a great chance to get back into the game in the sixth and seventh innings, but left the bases loaded without scoring a run in both cases.

"When we left the bases loaded in the sixth it took the wind out of your sails," MSU coach Holly Hess said. "We then give up three more on the defensive side, so that was the breaker. I thought if we had kept it 4-2 we might be able to come back."

The Bulldogs scored three insurance runs in the seventh inning on a pair of lead off singles by outfielders Jenna DeLong and Kelsey Kahler and an error by the Bears' third baseman on an attempt to get the lead runner at third on grounder by Hatfield. A double by Buss drove in the final two runs to up the lead to 7-2.