Feb. 12, 2016 Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas -- A ninth-inning home run by Detroit pinch hitter Arriana Acuna spoiled a third comeback attempt by the Missouri State softball team (1-1) as the Bears fell 5-3 in nine innings at the UT Arlington Invitational on Friday afternoon.
"We are all disappointed with the loss," said head coach Holly Hesse, "but we played well all day long. Complete game outings by our pitchers in both games today was another positive. Give Detroit credit for making some plays on defense."
Sophomore Kaitlin Beason turned in her second career-best performance of the day, this time in the circle. She pitched all nine innings, a career-long outing, and tied her career high with three strikeouts.
Detroit (1-0) hit back-to-back two-out doubles in the top of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Erin Duewel singled to left-center with two down in the bottom of the inning, but was stranded. Olivia Roark singled in the third inning, but again MSU was held off the board.
Mary Stephens led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to left field to tie the game at 1-1. It was the first MSU home run of the year after a team-record 48 a season ago.
As the game headed to the eighth inning, each team had a runner placed at second to begin each half inning. In the top of the eighth, the Titans squeezed home a run. In the bottom of the inning, pinch hitter Molly Fields put down a successful sacrifice bunt. Elena Gambill followed with an RBI single to right.
Detroit scored three runs in the top of the ninth, aided by a one-out home run. MSU was able to get a run back in the bottom of the ninth, but ultimately fell, 5-3.
Missouri State continues action at the UT Arlington Invitational on Saturday versus Northern Colorado (0-0) and host UT Arlington (1-0) and 4:30 and 6:30 p.m., respectively. MSU will conclude the weekend at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday against Northern Colorado.
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