Feb. 14, 2015 Box Score
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Freshman third baseman Chelsea Thomas clubbed two home runs as the Missouri State softball team (6-3) rallied to defeat Eastern Michigan (0-3) for a split on the second day of the Texas A&M Aggie Classic in College Station on Saturday. MSU beat the Eagles 4-1 after a setback to Penn State (5-3) by a 6-1 score in game one.
Thomas had four hits on the day, including a 3-for-3 performance in the win over EMU. She is the second freshman this season to hit two home runs in a game (Kaitlin Beason vs. ULM, Feb. 6). Thomas leads the Bears with four home runs and 11 RBI on the season.
Redshirt sophomore Mary Stephens had a hit in each game and drew three walks on the day. She has hit safely in seven of the nine Bears' games this season.
Junior Jessie Van Es picked up her first win of the season. She threw four innings of three-hit ball against the Eagles. Sophomore Erin Struemph pinned down her league-best fourth save of the year with three no-hit innings of relief.
Missouri State 1, Penn State 6
The Bears fell in an early hole as Penn State tallied three first inning runs before MSU even stepped into the batter's box. PSU added a run in the third inning to push the MSU deficit to 4-0.
Elena Gambill drew a walk with one out in the bottom of the third. She moved to second on an infield hit by senior Ali Trickey. But PSU halted the rally there, retiring the final two hitters.
After a home run put the Nittany Lions in front 6-0, the Bears got back to work. Thomas drew a walk with one down in the bottom of the fourth. Pinch runner Olivia Roark moved to second on a single up the middle by Stephens. Chelsea Jones grounded to third and Roark avoided the tag to load the bases for the Bears. Erin Duewel grounded to short, driving in Roark for the only run of the inning for MSU.
Thomas singled sharply off the diving third baseman's glove to begin the sixth. A walk to Stephens chased the PSU starter, but the Nittany Lions' reliever put the clamps on MSU's offense allowing just a seventh inning single to Trickey. Chelsea Jones came on in relief in the second inning. She fired six innings in relief to keep MSU in the game.
Missouri State 4, Eastern Michigan 1
Missouri State took the lead in the second inning. Thomas started the rally with a solo home run to right field, her team-leading third of the season. Stephens drew a walk, but was replaced at first on a fielder's choice by Beason. Molly Fields drew the second walk of the inning and both runners moved into scoring position on an illegal pitch. Duewel flew out in foul territory deep in left field and pinch runner Erika Velasquez Zimmer tagged up to score the second run of the inning.
Thomas led off the Bears' fourth inning with a single to left. Pinch runner Sara Jones moved all the way to third on a single to right by Stephens, but MSU was thwarted in the inning.
Rebecca McPherson singled to right on the first pitch of the sixth inning. She was aboard when Thomas lined her second home run of the game over the left field fence.
Missouri State will conclude the weekend against the host #22/23 Aggies on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. The Bears travel to Louisiana for next weekend's Ragin' Cajuns Invitational beginning Friday with two games at McNeese State.
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