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Relays Edition

Softball preview

After opening Missouri Valley Conference play with an 8-1 record, the Drake softball team dropped five straight games. Despite ups and downs, the Bulldogs are optimistic entering the May 10-12 State Farm MVC Championship.

“We knew we were playing the lower conference (teams) first, so it was really good to get the momentum,” said freshman pitcher Rebekah Schmidt. “Then, we started playing hard teams like UNI, and they’re at the top of the conference, so that was hard, but we knew we had to battle through it and just use that and keep going because it’s definitely not over.”

Schmidt is weeks away from her first MVC Championship appearance.

“When we’re really good on the field, we want to carry it into hitting,” Schmidt said. “Taking the good from both is giving us a lot of momentum.”

Learning from Drake’s mistakes is atop senior infielder Torey Craddock’s to-do list.

“Playing those games was good for us even though they were tough losses,” Craddock said. “We learned a lot, and I hope we keep moving forward with each game.”

With the final innings of Craddock’s Drake career approaching, every swing is an opportunity.

“Every run counts and every runner we get in scoring position is very important for us because every game is going to be close in the tournament and in the conference games,” Craddock said.

While undefeated Northern Iowa holds steady at No. 1 in MVC play, every team poses a threat.

“UNI is playing really well right now, but I think any team in the conference is capable of pulling a win any day,” Craddock said. “It’s whoever shows up, and we have a chance at winning, the tenth team has a chance at winning. It’s all about who plays the best ball on that day.”

Northern Iowa leads the MVC in doubles and triples this season. The Panthers’ Mackenzie Daigh boasts 58 hits in the 2011-12 campaign, tops in the MVC.

Besides Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois and Illinois State are also viable threats to take home the MVC title

Southern Illinois spearheads the MVC in batting with a .301 average.

llinois State is hanging around with a 10-7 record in conference play.

With tough teams looming in Drake’s future, determination is key.

“We consistently keep fighting and fighting even if the score is 5-0 in the seventh (inning),” Craddock said. “Whether we’re losing or winning, we’re just giving everything we have, every pitch, every hit, every inning.”

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