April 13, 2016 Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Missouri State softball team (14-22) got stellar pitching by senior Jessie Van Es and junior Erin Struemph to hold visiting Tulsa to just four hits. But single tallies in the first and second innings held up as the Golden Hurricane (28-11) downed the Bears, 2-1, at Killian Stadium on Wednesday.
Sophomore Erika Velasquez Zimmer continued her hot hitting with two hits. It was the Coppell, Texas native's fourth-straight multi-hit game. She also swiped two bases to increase her team-best total to 11 on the year.
"Jessie (Van Es) did a great job getting us started," said head coach Holly Hesse. "We gave up no big innings to a good-hitting team. (Erin) Struemph was really on her game with four shutout innings. I am really pleased with what our pitchers did in the circle against a good-hitting team."
Tulsa's second batter of the game hit a solo home run that hit off the top of the fence in right to put the visitors up 1-0 early. UT added a run in the second on a pair of singles with a stolen base in between.
Freshman Hannah Heinrichs drilled a solo home run, her second of the year, on the first pitch of the third inning. It was the first MSU hit of the game. Velasquez Zimmer picked up her first hit of the game later in the inning, but was stranded at second after a stolen base.
In the MSU fifth, sophomore Madison Jones singled down the right field line with two away, but the Bears were not able to get her home.
Velasquez Zimmer began the sixth with a base hit. She stole second and again remained in scoring position when the inning ended.
Van Es pitched three quality innings to start the day. She struck out three batters. Struemph fired four innings of shutout relief, allowing just one hit and striking out two.
The Bears head to league-leader Drake (23-14) for a three-game weekend set in Des Moines. Missouri State returns to Killian Stadium next Wednesday for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader against MVC foe Wichita State.
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