Feb. 6, 2015 Box Score
RUSTON, La. - The Missouri State softball team (1-0) got three hits from redshirt freshman Madison Jones and senior pitcher Chelsea Jones racked up six strikeouts in a 4-3 win over Abilene Christian (0-1) in the season opener at the Louisiana Tech Invitational in Ruston, La.
"It was a great opening day win," said head coach Holly Hesse, "especially with Allie (Alvstad) surprising the team by being here. We had a solid performance in all aspects of the game. It was great to see Madison (Jones) and Mary (Stephens) have a strong start to the season coming off of injuries."
Madison Jones went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in her first game back since a season-ending injury in the 10th game of last season. The lefty also drove in a run and stole a base in the win.
Chelsea Jones tied a career-high with the six strikeouts. She allowed just one walk in 5.2 innings to earn the win. Freshman Kaitlin Beason recorded two strikeouts in 1.2 innings of relief to earn the save.
Senior Rebecca McPherson had two hits in the game. She drove in a run with her first extra-base hit of the season, a double. Erika Velasquez Zimmer had a hit and scored a run. Chelsea Jones drove in a run with one hit.
After Madison Jones doubled to left in the first inning, the Bears threatened in the second. McPherson began the inning with a single to left. Kaitlin Beason followed with a walk, but MSU stranded both runners.
Missouri State jumped on the board in the third inning. Erika Velasquez Zimmer led off the inning with a bunt single, her first career hit. She stole second on the next pitch and scored on a single up the middle by Madison Jones. The next hitter, Mary Stephens doubled to left to plate Jones and give MSU a 2-0 advantage.
In the fifth inning, Madison Jones singled up the middle with one away. She stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Two batters later, Chelsea Jones reached on an infield single as Madison Jones scored. McPherson followed with a double to right center to score Chelsea Jones all the way from first and give MSU a 4-0 lead.
Abilene Christian got three runs back in the bottom of the sixth. Velasquez Zimmer helped to limit the damage as she threw out a runner at home plate in the inning.
Beason came in a recorded a strikeout to end the sixth. She retired the side in the seventh to earn the save, striking out her second of the game.
The Bears continue the Louisiana Tech Invitational later today (4:15 p.m.) against ULM. MSU will play Arkansas-Pine Bluff and SIU Edwardsville tomorrow before completing the weekend against host LA Tech on Sunday.
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