The Missouri State softball team improved to 4-0 on the fall campaign by logging victories over Crowder College and Drury Monday (Sept. 22) afternoon at MSU Softball Field in Springfield. The Bears topped Crowder by a 2-0 score in the first game of the day, then got a combined perfect game from Lauren Supak and Natalie Rose to edge Drury, 1-0.
The Bears scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth against Crowder to account for the only offense of the contest. With one out, Christa Gammon singled to center, stole second base, then came around on Jessie Smith's double to left-center to give MSU a 1-0 advantage. Smith, who advanced to third on the throw, was able to post the Bears' second tally on a passed ball.
MSU starting pitcher Lauren McGinley was able to make the lead stand, as the junior righthander limited Crowder to just three hits in five innings of work to notch her second win of the fall. Rose worked the first two of her four perfect innings on the day, striking out four Crowder hitters to earn the save.
In the nightcap, Missouri State got on the board early via an unearned run. Tyler Porter singled to center, advanced to second on a passed ball, then scored on Brooke Kempker's two-out single to give the Bears all the offense they would need.
Supak retired all 15 batters she faced before giving way to Rose, who fanned three more hitters to close out the perfect game.
Missouri State will be back in action this Saturday (Sept. 27) when it hosts the MSU Fall Festival, which includes match-ups against Central Missouri (1 p.m.) and Missouri S&T (5 p.m.).
