Missouri State defeated Bradley 5-1 Sunday, at the MSU Softball Field to sweep the two teams’ three-game Missouri Valley Conference weekend series. The Bears are now 19-11 overall and 8-6 in Valley play.

Missouri State scored three runs on four hits in the fourth. Doubles by freshman Ashley Knehans and junior Brooke Kempker and a single by freshman Jenna Schwark each plated MSU runs. Kempker and Schwark each had two hits for the Bears in the contest.

With one on in the fifth senior Michelle Armentrout hammered a first-pitch homerun to left to account for the rest of the Bears’ scoring. Freshmen Tyler Porter and Elysha Swider each singled in the Bears’ eight-hit attack.

Senior Melissa Porche (11-8) pitched her 14th complete game of the season, striking out 10 Bradley batters, yielding five hits and one sixth inning run..

Missouri State will play UMKC in a 2 p.m. doubleheader, Tuesday (April 8) at Kansas City, Mo.