Missouri State defeated Long Island 3-2 in the championship game of the Florida Atlantic "Strike Out" Cancer Tournament Sunday afternoon in Boca Raton, Fla.. The Bears avenged a 1-0 loss to Long Island in its season-opener and improved to 4-1 overall..

Missouri State scored the game clinching run in the top of the sixth inning. Senior Melissa Porche’s single to left centerfield scored senior Michelle Armentrout, who doubled to right field with two outs.

Sophomore starting pitcher and Tournament MVP Lauren McGinley (3-0) gave up just two hits and one earned run in five innings of work.to earn the victory. A lead-off double in the bottom of the sixth eventually led to Long Island’s first run and was the last hitter McGinley faced. Porche then took over on the mound, earning her third save with two innings of relief work. She allowed one earned run in the bottom of the seventh and struck out a pair of LIU batters.

Freshman Tyler Porter triggered the MSU offense in the top half of the fourth inning with a lead-off single up the middle. Junior Jessie Smith followed with a single, moving Porter to third. Armentrout reached on a fielding error by the LIU third baseman. Porter and Smith both scored on the play, with Armentrout advancing to second base. Senior Carrie Roberson pinch ran for Armentrout and was thrown out at the plate on Porche’s ensuing single to centerfield.

Missouri State will next compete in the Tulsa Tournament. The Bears will face Central Arkansas (10 a.m.) and Valparaiso (2 p.m.) Friday (Feb. 22). MSU will then face Eastern Illinois (2 p.m.) and North Dakota (7 p.m) Saturday (Feb. 23) and conclude the tournament against host Tulsa (1 p.m.) Sunday (Feb. 24).