Feb. 24, 2013

Box Score

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Missouri State softball team (7-8) got another stellar pitching performance out of sophomore Chelsea Jones in an 8-0 blanking of host Chattanooga (7-7) in the final game of the Frost Classic on Sunday afternoon. The win propels head coach Holly Hesse into sole possession of third on the all-time MVC coaching list with 631 victories.

"I thought we put all three aspects of the game together today," said Hesse following the win. "This is about as perfect as you can be on the diamond. The defense was phenomenal. Chelsea (Jones) was just great on the mound, getting ahead of the hitters and getting lead-off outs. Offensively, everybody contributed that had a chance and Stevie's (Pierce) was the spark we needed."

Jones picked up her league-leading seventh win of the year and has posted victories in her last seven starts. She struck out three in the game and did not allow a walk for the second-straight start. It was her second complete game shutout of the year and ninth overall complete game this season.

Stevie Pierce led all Bears with a 3-for-4 day, including a two-run home run to get the Bears on the board. She drove in three in the game and scored three times as well. Stacia Boeckstiegel was also 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.

The game began with both pitchers cruising through the early innings. MSU's Jones allowed just a pair of singles in the first three innings, while UTC's Deason held the Bears to a lone hit, Stacia Boeckstiegel's second inning single to left.

Missouri State broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning. Kerri Cunningham used her speed to beat out an infield hit to shortstop. Two batters later, Stevie Pierce popped an opposite field home run to give the Bears a 2-0 lead. It was Pierce's league-leading sixth long ball of the season.

The Bears increased the lead in the sixth. Heather Duckworth ripped a one-out double to right-center. Pierce laid down a bunt and avoided the tag on the way to first and continued on to second when no UTC player covered the base. Boeckstiegel picked up her second hit of the game when she also put a bunt down, driving in Duckworth. Ali Trickey followed and dropped a double into left field to score two more and boost the Bears' advantage to 5-0.

The seventh inning saw another Bears' rally. Ashley Brentz started the inning with a bloop single to left. Cutter beat out a bunt for a base hit and Cunningham sacrificed both runners into scoring position. After a fielder's choice putout at home, Pierce roped a single inside the third base bag, scoring Cutter. Boeckstiegel followed and doubled over the centerfielder's head, scoring two more runs and giving the Bears a comfortable 8-0 advantage.

The Bears return to Killian Stadium for the home opener against Wright State on Thursday, February 28 with a 4:00 p.m. first pitch. MSU will then hit the road again for the annual Missouri Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament hosted by SEMO with four games on Saturday and Sunday.