Feb. 20, 2015 Box Score
LAKE CHARLES, La. - The Missouri State softball team (6-6) dropped both ends of a doubleheader at McNeese State (9-3) to begin the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational on Friday. The Bears fell by a slim 3-2 score in game one and lost in game two, 3-1.
"McNeese (State) is a very good team and playing a good team close is always good," said head coach Holly Hesse, "but we want to win. We have to continue to be patient and be positive and know that our pitching and our defense can keep us in the game. When that happens, we have a chance to win."
Freshman Kaitlin Beason went 2-for-4 on the day and drew a walk. She drove in a run on her first career sacrifice fly in game one.
Chelsea Thomas and Mary Stephens each hit home runs on the day. Thomas hit her team-best fifth of the season in game one. Stephens hit her first of the season in game two to account for Missouri State's run.
Senior Ali Trickey recorded her third multi-hit game of the season with two hits in game one.
Chelsea Jones pitched five solid innings in game one. She allowed just six hits against and struck out two. Junior Jessie Van Es tossed 5.2 innings in game two and tied her career high with five strikeouts.
Game 1 - Missouri State 2, McNeese State 3
Back-to-back infield singles by Olivia Roark and Erika Velasquez Zimmer looked promising to begin the day for the Bears. But defensive plays by McNeese State kept the Bears off the board in the first inning.
The Cowgirls parlayed the defensive momentum into three hits and two runs in the bottom of the first. Missouri State limited the damage with a couple of defensive gems of their own.
The Bears again turned in some stellar defense in the second inning. Despite allowing a run against, Missouri State cut down two runners at the plate attempting to score in the inning.
In the fourth inning, the Bears manufactured their first run of the game. Walks to Velasquez Zimmer, Chelsea Thomas and Mary Stephens loaded the bases. Kaitlin Beason flew to deep center to push home the first run for Missouri State.
Thomas blasted a solo home run with one down in the sixth inning. Her fifth of the season cut the deficit to 3-2. Two consecutive Bears drew walks with two outs to chase the McNeese State starter, but the reliever stranded both Missouri State runners to preserve the lead.
Game 2 - Missouri State 1, McNeese State 3
Missouri State again began game two with a promising start. Madison Jones walked to start the game. Back-to-back wild pitches and a walk to Velasquez Zimmer put runners at the corners. But McNeese turned a double play and got out of trouble.
In the Bears' fourth inning, Rebecca McPherson got the first hit for MSU, a triple into the right field corner. She was tagged out in a rundown after a missed squeeze attempt. Mary Stephens made up for the misstep by muscling a solo home run to deep left-center on the next pitch to put the Bears in front, 1-0.
The Cowgirls put a rally together in the bottom of the inning and took the lead with three hits and two runs. A solo home run in the fifth put the Bears in a 3-1 hole.
The Bears continue action at the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational against host #6 Louisiana (11-0) at 3:00 p.m. MSU will play Iowa (3-6) at 5:30 p.m. and again on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. to close out the trip to the Pelican State.
#MSUBears
