April 18, 2015 Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. - Missouri State head coach Holly Hesse picked up career wins No. 699 and 700 as the Missouri State softball team (26-18, 14-5) shut out the Redbirds in both halves of the doubleheader at Illinois State (20-26, 11-8) on Saturday. The Bears piled up the runs in an 11-0 five-inning game one victory and got a late home run to cushion the lead for a 4-0 win in game two. It was the first time the Bears shut out Illinois State in both ends of a doubleheader since 1993. The 11-run output was the highest against Illinois State in 104 all-time meetings. The wins also clinched a spot in this year's MVC Tournament for Missouri State.
"This team is just a special team, we are battling at the top of the conference standings," said head coach Holly Hesse. "Certainly 700 wins, you only get there if you have great staff, great assistant coaches and so many great athletes that have come through this program. When you are facing a team that has over 50 home runs, it is quite an amazing feat. Both Chelsea (Jones) and (Erin) Struemph have been pitching well all year."
Missouri State pitching was dominant all day. Game one starter Chelsea Jones scattered five hits, struck out four and did not allow a walk. It was her fifth consecutive start in which she did not allow an earned run.
Erin Struemph took the ball in game two and racked up a season-high 10 strikeouts. She allowed just three hits for her fifth complete game of the year.
Chelsea Jones had four hits on the day, two in each game. She drove in three runs between the doubleheader and scored a run in each game.
Freshman Erika Velasquez Zimmer extended her hitting streak to 12 games with a base hit in each game. She drove in two runs in game one and scored a run.
Junior Erin Duewel hit safely in both games collecting three hits on the day. She drove in four, including her third three-run home run in the last five games.
| Holly Hesse's Milestone Wins |
| Win | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 1 | 3/17/89 | Stetson | 3-0 |
| 100 | 5/14/93 | Wichita State | 2-0 |
| 200 | 3/8/97 | UMKC | 6-0 |
| 300 | 3/24/00 | Coastal Carolina | 3-1 |
| 400 | 3/20/04 | Indiana State | 9-1 |
| 500 | 4/22/07 | Indiana State | 1-0 |
| 600 | 2/17/12 | Sam Houston State | 7-2 |
| 700 | 4/18/15 | Illinois State | 4-0 |
Game 1 - Missouri State 11, Illinois State 0 (5)
The Bears struck first in the third inning. With one away, Molly Fields singled through the right side for MSU's first hit. Olivia Roark was hit with the next pitch to move pinch runner Ali Trickey into scoring position. Erika Velasquez Zimmer grounded to third in what appeared to end the inning, but her speed caused an errant throw allowing the first run to cross the plate. A wild pitch by ISU to the next better allowed another run to come home and give the Bears a 2-0 lead.
MSU put up a crooked number in the fourth inning. Hailee Vigneaux and Chelsea Thomas drew consecutive walks to begin the frame. Fields singled to center to push home the first run. Consecutive walks to Roark and Mary Stephens pushed home another run and loaded the bases. Velasquez Zimmer singled through the right side to drive in two. After McPherson was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, Chelsea Jones singled off the third baseman's glove to score two more. Erin Duewel continued the rally with a single to center to drive in a run. Vigneaux flew deep to center, but the ball was dropped allowing the eighth run of the inning to score.
Roark was hit by a pitch to begin the fifth inning. She moved to second on a ground out and came in to score on McPherson's two-out single to right field.
MSU pitcher Chelsea Jones closed the door in the fifth for her fifth consecutive start without allowing an earned run. She struck out four, scattered five hits and did not walk a batter to improve to 13-6 on the season.
Game 2 - Missouri State 4, Illinois State 0
Missouri State again took the lead in game two. Stephens singled up the middle to begin the game and advanced to second on an illegal pitch. Two batters later, McPherson singled to left putting runners on the corners. Chelsea Jones followed and singled to right driving in the first run of the game.
Both pitchers dominated the middle innings until the sixth inning. Duewel reached on an infield single with one away in the sixth. Vigneaux singled through the right side and Gambill drew a walk to load the bases, but ISU kept the Bears off the board.
After ISU left the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, Stephens drew a leadoff walk in the seventh. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Velasquez Zimmer. Chelsea Jones reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners. With two away, Duewel blasted a three-run home run to left to pad the Bears' lead at 4-0.
The Bears conclude the series at Illinois State on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Missouri State returns to Killian Stadium on Wednesday to conclude the season series with Wichita State at 5:00 p.m. The five-game home stand will close the 2015 home slate for the Bears. MSU will also play Missouri on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. and host UNI for Senior Weekend at Killian on Saturday and Sunday.
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