Box Score COLLEGE STATION, Texas – After trailing the first six innings, the Missouri State softball team strung together four runs in the seventh inning to move past New Mexico, 7-6, on the final day of the Texas A&M Invitational.   
 
New Mexico came out of the gate scoring two runs off three hits and one error in the bottom of the first, followed by a one-run third inning to take an early 3-0 lead over the Bears.
 
With one out in the top of the fourth, senior Elena Gambill earned a free trip to first base after watching four balls. Recording her first hit of the season, Morgan Greenlee launched a double into center field, bringing around Gambill to cut the Lobo's lead, 3-1.
 
However, New Mexico answered in the bottom of the frame, scoring one run off one hit and one error to give the Lobos a 4-1 advantage.
 
Back-to-back singles in the top of the fifth from juniors Erika Velasquez Zimmer and Hailee Vigneaux put immediate pressure on the New Mexico defense. With no outs and runners on first and second, junior Madison Jones laid down a sac bunt to move both runners into scoring position for senior Bethany Sullinger.
 
Reaching base on a fielder's choice, Sullinger brought home Zimmer as well as Vigneaux, who reached the plate on a fielding error by the New Mexico catcher. After cutting the Lobo's lead to 4-3, the Bear defense recorded two, 1-2-3 innings to bring back the top of the Missouri State lineup for the start the seventh inning.
 
Kicking off the Bear's seventh-inning rally, Zimmer dropped a single into left field, placing a runner on first with no outs for Vigneaux. On a 1-0 pitch, the lefty-hitter singled to the shortstop and made her way around to third base thanks to a throwing error that scored Zimmer to tie the game at four runs apiece. Following suit, Jones blasted a triple to right-center field, scoring Vigneaux and giving the Bears their first lead of the game. After a Sullinger walk and stolen base, Gambill hit a sacrifice fly into deep right field to score Jones. Following the catch, an error by the New Mexico outfielder allowed Sullinger to reach home safely, scoring Missouri State's seventh run of the game and fourth of the inning.
 
With just the bottom frame left, junior Kaitlin Beason returned to circle to hold off the Lobos. New Mexico's Angelica Lujan started off the inning with a leadoff double, followed by two groundouts that brought around the freshman to score. After a Lobo single and a walk, Jasmine Casados of New Mexico ripped a double into center field, scoring one more run and placing two runners in scoring position with just one out left. On a 1-0 pitch, Beason induced a pop up to Jones at second, earning the final out of the game as well as the 7-6 win.
 
Entering the game in relief during the first inning, Beason tossed 6.2 innings and picked up one strikeouts during her sixth appearance of the season. The hard-throwing right-hander improved to 3-2 this season while allowing three earned runs.
 
Next Up For The Bears
The Bears return to action Friday, Mar. 3 against UMKC at the "We Back Pat Tournament" in Kansas City, Mo. The three-day tournament features matchups against the Kangaroos, Southeast Missouri State and Saint Louis. For more information on the Missouri State softball team, visit www.missouristatebears.com or Twitter (@MSUSoftball).