March 25, 2015 Box Score
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - A 2-0 first inning lead evaporated late as the Missouri State softball team (14-15) dropped a tough 3-2 decision at SIU Edwardsville (24-6) on Wednesday afternoon.
"Our pitching and defense were phenomenal today," said head coach Holly Hesse. "SIUE is a good team and we hung with them for six innings."
Erika Velasquez Zimmer went 2-for-3 in the game with a run scored. Rebecca McPherson and Mary Stephens each had a hit. Stephens also walked and scored a run. McPherson had an RBI for MSU.
Junior catcher Braxton Coil threw out three potential base stealers in the game. Starting pitcher Erin Struemph tossed five innings with four strikeouts and scattered three hits.
MSU jumped out to an early lead on NFCA National Pitcher of the Week Haley Chambers. Mary Stephens drew her team-leading 18th walk of the season to lead off the game in an 11 pitch at-bat. Erika Velasquez Zimmer singled over the shortstop to put two aboard. Rebecca McPherson followed with a single up the middle to plate the first run of the game. Both runners stole bases to move into scoring position and Velasquez Zimmer scored on a wild pitch to give the Bears a 2-0 lead.
Coil erased her first base runner of the game in the second inning. She cut down the runner attempting to steal second to eliminate a leadoff single.
Stephens and Velasquez Zimmer singled back-to back to lead off the Bears' third inning, but MSU was unable to add to its advantage.
Coil ended the bottom of the third inning with a caught stealing. She did it again to end the SIUE fifth inning.
The Cougars put together a three run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning which proved to be the difference in the outcome.
Missouri State will continue its seven-game road swing in Terre Haute, Ind., for three games against Indiana State beginning on Saturday. MSU returns home on March 31 with a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader versus SEMO at Killian Stadium to begin a nine-game home stand.
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