April 6, 2016 Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Visiting Central Arkansas hit three two-run home runs and the deficit was too much for Missouri State (13-19) to overcome in a 9-3 defeat at Killian Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Freshman Darian Frost had two of MSU's six hits in the game. Fellow freshman Kyana Mason came off the bench and recorded her first career hit.
MSU starting pitcher Erin Struemph struck out eight in five innings of work. Reliever Jessie Van Es struck out one as MSU's staff picked up nine strikeouts against a UCA team that went to the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
"We had some good at-bats by people coming in off the bench and that's encouraging," said head coach Holly Hesse. "Kiki (Kyana Mason) and Allie (Alvstad) had nice at-bats for us. Struemph doesn't very often have a bad night, but they (Central Arkansas) took advantage of three missed targets."
Central Arkansas (25-14) took a 2-0 lead just three batters into the game. A leadoff walk came across on a two-run home run for UCA. Struemph rebounded in the second inning to strike out the side, but another two-run shot in the third put MSU behind 4-0.
Frost singled with one down in the second inning, but pinch runner Sara Jones was erased on an inning-ending double play. MSU got two on base in the third thanks to a Central Arkansas error and a walk by Madison Jones. Again, Missouri State was turned away.
The fifth inning saw Central Arkansas hit its third two-run home run of the game. Erika Velasquez Zimmer led off the sixth inning with a double to center, but MSU stranded her at third. UCA added three runs in the top of the seventh to put MSU in a 9-0 hole.
Hailee Vigneaux started a seventh-inning rally with a one-out single up the middle. Mason kept the rally going with a solid single through the right side. Madison Jones singled back to the pitcher and the rushed throw sailed over the first baseman's head to allow the first run to cross the plate for MSU. Pinch hitter Allie Alvstad drew a walk to load the bases. Erika Velasquez Zimmer bounced first pitch back to the pitcher for an RBI ground out. MSU got its final run on a fielding error by the UCA third baseman, but the rally was not enough to overcome the large deficit.
This weekend, the Bears will hold a reunion of the 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2006 championship teams as part of Legacy Weekend when Southern Illinois comes to town on April 9-10. MSU will hold a free youth clinic after the April 10 game. The home stand will conclude on April 13 with a 5:00 tilt against Tulsa.
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