Feb. 22, 2013
Box Score
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Missouri State softball team (5-7) downed Boston College (0-1) in the opener of the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn., 10-7, on Friday morning. In the Bears' second game, MSU fell to Lipscomb (4-5) by a 4-2 score.
"Any time you score 10 runs offensively," said head coach Holly Hesse, "that's exciting. We continue to hit the ball well and put up big numbers, especially early in the game, that is key for us. Good for Chelsea (Jones) winning five games in a row and gutting that game out for us. I thought Jessie (Van Es) was fabulous on the mound for us and it is time for us to break through and get her a win."
Missouri State pitcher Chelsea Jones earned her fifth-consecutive victory in the win over BC. It was her seventh complete game of the year. In game two, freshman Jessie Van Es tossed her second complete game of the year. She struck out a season-high four batters and did not allow a walk in the game.
Stevie Pierce continued to pace the Bears with five runs batted in on the day. She had two doubles, giving her a team-high four for the season. Ashley Brentz, Caitlin Chapin and Kerri Cunningham each had two hits on the day.
The Bears tied season highs with 10 runs in the first game and a six-run top-of-the-first against the Eagles.
Game 1 - Missouri State 10, Boston College 7
Kirstin Cutter began the rally with an infield single. After she stole second, Ashley Brentz drew a walk. Caitlin Chapin followed and beat out a sacrifice bunt for an infield single to load the bases. Cleanup hitter Mary Stephens worked a full-count walk to push across the first run of the inning. Stevie Pierce then cleared the bases with a rocket, three-run double down the left field line. She moved up to third on a wild pitch and Heather Duckworth reached on a bases on balls. Two pitches into Stacia Boeckstiegel's at-bat, BC brought on a new pitcher, but it didn't matter as Boeckstiegel earned the fourth free pass of the inning. Another wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Lauren Eisenreich flew to center, driving home Duckworth and giving MSU a 6-0 lead.
The Bears got right back at it in the second. With one away, Brentz singled up the middle and moved to second on a Chapin walk. After a wild pitch moved both runners up, Stephens singled through the left side to plate Brentz. From there, BC wiggled off the hook and stranded Chapin at third.
The third inning was no different. Duckworth earned her second free pass of the game and then stole second, her first career stolen base. Eisenreich laced a double to the left-center wall, scoring Duckworth.
After BC plated five in its third inning, Cutter was hit by a pitch to start the fourth. She advanced to third on an infield bunt single by Brentz. Chapin followed with a bloop single over second base to score Cutter.
Boston College inched closer in the fifth, scoring twice to pull within 9-7. However, the Bears got a lead-off single from Kerri Cunningham in the sixth. Later in the inning, she would score on a sacrifice fly by Chapin.
Jones retired the side in the sixth and the seventh to close out the win.
Game 2 - Missouri State 2, Lipscomb 4
Missouri State got a runner in each of the first three innings. In the first, Chapin drew a two-out walk. Duckworth walked with one away in the second and Cunningham led off the third with an infield bunt single. However, no runner advanced past second.
Lipscomb broke through in the third on a couple of singles. Then in the fifth, LU broke through for three runs, a pivotal inning in the game.
In the Bears' sixth, pinch hitter Amber Dreher drew a walk, the ninth free pass of the day for the Bears. She advanced to second on a fielder's choice and a Lady Bisons' error. Two batters later, Pierce drilled a double to straight-away center for two RBI.
Van Es set Lipscomb down in order in the bottom of the sixth, giving MSU one final chance to knot up the game. Missouri State sent Boeckstiegel up to pinch hit with one out in the seventh. She roped a double to the right-center wall, but remained there as the game ended.
The Bears continue action at the Frost Classic on Saturday morning with games against Toledo (10:00 a.m. CT) and Tennessee Tech (2:30 p.m. CT). Missouri State will finish the season-opening road trip with a game against host Chattanooga on Sunday (11:15 a.m. CT). The Bears open the home slate against Wright State on Thursday, February 28 with a 4:00 p.m. first pitch at Killian Stadium.
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