March 29, 2016 Box Score
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Every starter in the Bears' lineup registered a hit and the Missouri State softball team (13-16) rolled to a run-rule win at Arkansas on Tuesday night, 11-1, in five innings. The 11 runs were the most scored by MSU in the 38-game series history, which is now tied at 19-19 all-time.
The Bears' offense backed another stellar outing by junior pitcher Erin Struemph. She scattered just four hits against the Razorbacks (13-20). She also struck out three batters, including career strikeout number 400, just the sixth hurler in MSU history to reach that strikeout plateau.
Sophomore Kaitlin Beason and junior Mary Stephens each had two hits and two RBI in the game. Senior Erin Duewel hit her team-leading sixth home run of the year and 19th of her career, tied for third-most in school history. She drove in three runs.
"It was a total team win," said head coach Holly Hesse. "(Erin) Struemph was amazing once again, a four-hitter against an SEC team, a huge effort by her. I like the consistency she is giving us right now in the eight-foot circle. Another perfect game by us on defense and our hitting was phenomenal with double-digit hits."
A two-out rally in the top of the first put the Bears on top. Stephens singled to left and Beason drew a walk. Duewel powered a 1-2 pitch well over the left field fence to put MSU up 3-0.
In the third inning, Madison Jones doubled over the head of the left fielder. She moved to third on a ground out by Stephens. Beason singled to right on the first pitch to increase the Bears' advantage to 4-0.
The MSU offense poured it on in the fourth. Hailee Vigneaux tripled to right off Arkansas reliever with one away. Hannah Heinrichs followed with a double to right to push home Vigneaux. Erika Velasquez Zimmer singled through the right side to score Heinrichs. Madison Jones reached on a fielding error and Mary Stephens flew deep to center, but was robbed of a three-run home run. Beason singled up the middle to plate another run and make it 7-0.
After Struemph retired the side in order, the Bears offense got back to work in the fifth. Back-to-back singles by Elena Gambill and Darian Frost started the rally. Vigneaux reached on a fielder's choice to put runners at the corners. Pinch hitter Bethany Sullinger singled to left to plate the first run. Velasquez Zimmer walked to load the bases. With two away, Stephens singled to left to drive in two and the third run came home on a fielding error.
Arkansas got a run in the bottom of the fifth, but it was too little too late as the Bears finished off the game in five innings.
The Bears return to conference play with a trip north to Chicago for a three-game series at Loyola on April 2-3. MSU kicks off a five-game home stand on April 6 with a 6:00 p.m. contest versus Central Arkansas at Killian Stadium.
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