April 29, 2016 Box Score
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The Missouri State softball team (19-27, 8-12) got two complete game gems from its pitching staff in a doubleheader sweep at Evansville (22-23, 10-12) on Friday. Sophomore Kaitlin Beason fired a five-hit shutout in a 1-0 game one victory. Junior Erin Struemph also tossed a five hitter as MSU won game two, 4-2. The twin bill sweep solidifies the sixth-consecutive series win for the Bears in Evansville dating back to 2006.
Beason fired her second shutout of the year with a five-hitter in game one. She improved her team-leading earned run average to 3.32 and tossed her sixth complete game of the year.
Struemph threw her 13th complete game of the season in game two. It was her sixth complete game on the league season allowing five or fewer hits.
Offensively, senior Erin Duewel had three hits, including a base knock in each game. She scored the first run of game two. Sophomore Hailee Vigneaux hit safely in both game, recording three hits on the day. Sophomore Erika Velasquez Zimmer had the Bears lone extra-base hit of the day and it was a big one, a two-RBI double.
"They were both very efficient and threw a lot of strikes," said head coach Holly Hesse of the pitchers in the sweep. "They let the defense make plays for them. I really like that they both gave us a good shot to win. I continue to love the way we play defense."
Game 1 -- Missouri State 1, Evansville 0
Missouri State turned a two-out rally in the third into the first run of the game in the third inning. Olivia Roark reached on a bunt single and stole second base. Madison Jones followed with an infield single and Roark slid around the tag at the plate for a 1-0 lead. Singles by Duewel and Mary Stephens continued the inning until the Aces cut down a runner at the plate to end the frame.
In the fifth, Vigneaux singled to left-center to begin the inning. She was replaced at first on a fielder's choice. Roark dropped a single over the third base man and Jones was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but UE got out of the jam.
Vigneaux singled again in the seventh to begin the frame. Velasquez Zimmer drew a walk and both runners were sacrificed into scoring position by Roark. Again, the Purple Aces got out of trouble, this time cutting down the runner at the plate to end the inning.
Beason worked a scoreless seventh to complete the shutout. She struck out two in the win.
Game 2 -- Missouri State 4, Evansville 2
The Purple Aces broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third. Three hits in the frame by UE, including a two-run home run gave the hosts a 2-0 advantage.
MSU didn't trail for long. In the top of the fourth, Duewel singled to left to begin the inning. Stephens was hit by a pitch to continue the rally. Beason put down a sacrifice bunt and the second baseman dropped the throw to first allowing Duewel to score on the play. Elena Gambill singled up the middle to push home the tying run. A groundout advanced both runners into scoring position and both then scored on a double into the right field corner by Velasquez Zimmer to double to MSU lead to 4-2.
The Bears and Purple Aces will try to get in the final game of the series on Saturday at noon. MSU travels to Wichita on Tuesday to wrap up the road portion of the league slate with a 6:00 p.m. game against the Shockers. The Bears will host Indiana State on May 7-8 to conclude the regular season.
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