March 11, 2016 Box Score
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Redshirt sophomore Allie Alvstad recorded her first hit since returning from her battle through acute myeloid leukemia. It was one of just three hits by the Missouri State softball team (10-10) in a 2-0 defeat to Omaha (9-14) at the Jayhawk Invitational on Friday afternoon.
"We are trying to get Allie (Alvstad) some at-bats in non-pressure situations. I think she can be a really good pinch hitter for us as the season goes on. She has had some good at-bats, drawn a couple walks. It was great to see her break through with that first base hit."
Sophomore Madison Jones had one of the Bears' hits and has hit safely in 10 of the last 11 games for MSU. Junior Olivia Roark also had a hit, extending her team-high current hitting streak to five games.
Starting pitcher Jessie Van Es matched the UNO starter toe-to-toe through 4.1 innings. Van Es struck out two batters and scattered three hits. Junior Erin Struemph came on in relief pitched the final 2.2 frames with four strikeouts.
Jones and Roark singled back-to-back to begin the Missouri State fourth inning, but a rundown produced just a runner at second base. A walk by Kaitlin Beason extended the inning, but MSU could not break the scoreless tie.
Alvstad provided a brief spark as a two-out pinch hitter in the bottom of the fifth. She lined a 1-2 pitch into right field.
The Mavericks put together three-consecutive two-out hits to plate the only two runs of the game in the top of the sixth inning.
MSU will play UNI in a non-conference matchup on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. before wrapping the weekend against UNO on Saturday afternoon. The Bears travel to Oklahoma State on Wednesday before opening the home slate and MVC play on Saturday, March 19 versus Illinois State at 12:00 p.m.
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