April 25, 2015 Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Junior Erin Duewel became the fourth Missouri State Bear to hit two home runs in a game, but it was her single with the bases loaded in the 11th inning that powered MSU to a 4-3 win in game two of a doubleheader split at Killian Stadium on Saturday. Duewel hit a pair of home runs in game one and senior Rebecca McPherson tied the single season home run record, but the visiting UNI Panthers (19-23, 13-8) took game one, 15-8, from Missouri State (27-21, 15-7). The Bears move to 4-0 in extra-inning games this season and the 11-inning game is the longest played by the Bears since April 30, 2011 against Drake.
"(Erin) Duewel gave the pregame speech today and talked about playing well for the seniors," said head coach Holly Hesse. "She really took that to heart. She stepped up and had a tremendous day at the plate, including the game-winning hit and a couple of home runs. It was really important that we stayed in the fight in the second game and I think that will really help us moving forward."
Duewel had a career-high four hits in game two, two of which were doubles. On the day, she had six total hits, four that went for extra-bases. She drove in five runs and scored twice.
McPherson extended her hitting streak to 13 games with a school-record tying home run in the sixth inning of game one. She added a single in game two to increase her hitting streak to a team-best 14 games, the longest on the team this season.
Redshirt sophomore Mary Stephens climbed into the MSU record books with a pair of walks in game two. She now has 29 walks on the year, tied for the fourth-highest single season total in school history. Stephens also contributed three hits, drove in three runs and score twice.
Sophomore Erin Struemph pitched all 11 innings of game two, a career-long outing. She struck out five and scattered nine hits over the 11 frames.
Freshman Hailee Vigneaux had four hits on the day including a season-best 3-for-4 performance in game two. She drew a walk in addition to her hit in game one. Fellow freshman Erika Velasquez Zimmer also recorded four hits and scored a run in each game.
Game 1 - Missouri State 8, UNI 15
The Panthers took a second inning lead on a leadoff solo home run. UNI extended the lead to 4-0 with a three-run home run in the third.
In the bottom of the third, Olivia Roark reached on an error by the Panthers. Stephens stepped in and launched a home run to straight-away center to cut the deficit in half.
UNI pieced together three hits in the fourth inning to tack on a run. Then in the sixth, the Panthers posted five unearned runs to put the Bears in a 10-2 hole.
McPherson helped the Bears avoid the run-rule loss with a first-pitch blast to left. It was her 10th home run of the season, tying the single season school record held by Ashley Meredith (2004), Samantha Fleeman (2006) and Stevie Pierce (2013).
Two batters later, Duewel sent the first pitch she saw over the fence in left-center. It was her seventh long ball of the season and sixth in league play.
The Panthers hit a pair of home runs of their own in the top of the seventh and plated five runs to extend the lead to 15-4.
MSU wasn't done. Roark reached on the second UNI error of the game to begin the bottom of the seventh and advanced to second on the overthrow. Stephens drove her in with a single through the left side, but she was erased from the bases in a rundown. Consecutive hits by Velasquez Zimmer and McPherson put runners at the corners. Senior Chelsea Jones flew to left field to score the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly. Duewel stepped in and hit a home run to left on the second pitch of the at-bat to drive in two more. Vigneaux walked and Elena Gambill singled, but MSU's rally was halted there.
Game 2 - Missouri State 4, UNI 3 (11)
Velasquez Zimmer sparked a first inning rally with a one-out bunt single. She came in to score on a single to center by McPherson that was bobbled by the UNI fielder. Duewel walked and Vigneaux reached on an error, but the Bears left the bases loaded.
The Panthers hit a solo home run in the top of the second to tie the game. Duewel doubled in the third and Stephens singled in the fourth, but MSU was not able to pull ahead.
McPherson began the Bears' fifth inning with a walk. Chelsea Jones reached on a bunt single and both runners advanced into scoring position as the throw went into right field. Duewel singled to center to plate the first run. She stole second to put two in scoring position again for Vigneaux, who singled through the right side for a RBI. Gambill drew a walk and Chelsea Thomas reached on an infield single to load the bases, but UNI got out of the jam with an inning-ending double play.
The Bears' lead was short-lived as back-to-back solo home runs pulled the Panthers even at 3-3.
MSU had a chance at a walk-off win in the seventh. Chelsea Jones drew a leadoff walk. She was replaced at first by Duewel on a fielder's choice. After a single to right by Vigneaux, UNI turned the Bears away with another double play.
Missouri State had runners on in the eighth, ninth and tenth innings, but were unable to generate the winning run. The ninth inning ended with McPherson being thrown out at home.
In the 11th inning, Stephens drew a leadoff walk. She reached second safely on Velasquez Zimmer's sacrifice bunt putting two aboard. McPherson moved both runners into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt and Chelsea Jones drew a base on balls to load the bases. Duewel stepped in and floated a full count single over the shortstop into shallow center field for the walk-off win.
The Bears play their final home game of 2015 at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday in the rubber game of the weekend series against UNI. MSU travels to Tulsa on Wednesday before wrapping up the regular season at Southern Illinois next weekend.
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