Missouri State managed just three hits in a 1-0 loss at Drake, Sunday, in Des Moines, Iowa. MSU’s loss concluded a week-long six-game road trip, in which the Bears went 1-5 overall. Missouri State is now 15-10 overall and 4-4 in Missouri Valley Conference action.

Senior pitcher Melissa Porche (9-7) recorded her 11th complete game of the season, tossing a five-hitter and striking out eight Drake batters. The Bulldogs scored the game’s lone run in the eighth when Elena Leon doubled to right-center to score Kristin Birocci with the game winner.

Missouri State threatened in the sixth, when freshman Christa Gammon advanced to second on junior Jessie Smith’s one-out single. Junior pinch-hitter Ashley Arbon struck out and junior Elysha Swider grounded out to third to end the inning however. Junior Brooke Kempker led-off the Bears’ seventh with a single, but was stranded there following pop-ups by junior Jen Carr and Gammon and a Smith strikeout. Carr recorded the Bears’ lone other hit.

Missouri State will host Wichita State in an MVC doubleheader Wednesday, (April 2) starting at 3 p.m. at the MSU Softball Field.