Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

OXFORD, Ala. – Totaling 23 hits on the day, the Missouri State softball team's offense outlasted both Alabama State and Samford on day two of the Leon Smith Classic, held at Choccolocco Park, Saturday afternoon.
 
Missouri State 13, Alabama State 8
In an offensive onslaught, the Bears recorded a season-high 13 runs off 14 hits in the inaugural meeting between Missouri State and Hornets of Alabama State. The two teams battled back-and-forth throughout the game, beginning in the first inning after the Hornets scored three runs off two singles and a double.
 
The Bears fought back in the bottom frame as juniors Erika Velasquez Zimmer and Hailee Vigneaux recorded back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. Following a sacrifice fly that moved both runners into scoring position, Bethany Sullinger tapped a single to the shortstop to score Velasquez Zimmer. Junior Kaitlin Beason followed Sullinger, bringing in Vigneaux from third to cut Alabama State's lead to 3-2.
 
After a scoreless second inning, the Hornets loaded the bases, forcing Beason to replace Missouri State starter Erin Griesbauer. Following the pitching change, Alabama State's Diauna Nelson doubled to right field to bring in two more runs for the Hornets.
 
The Missouri State offense exploded in the bottom of the third as the Bears scored six runs to take its first lead of the game. With the bases loaded, Darian Frost sent a pitch back up the middle that scored two runs. The following at-bat, a fielding and throwing error by the Hornets' third baseman allowed Holly Kelley to reach second base safely and Missouri State's fifth run to score. On the following two pitches, Olivia Roark and Velasquez Zimmer notched back-to-back, RBI singles, giving the Bears an 8-6 lead.
 
Responding in dramatic fashion, Alabama State's Kendall Core sent a two-out, two-run homer out of the park to even the score, 8-8, in the top of the fourth. However, in the bottom frame, Missouri State answered the call by scoring three more runs off two hits and one error. The Bears' three-run lead forced Alabama State to make a pitching change, in which Charlene Castro prevented Missouri State from scoring until late in the sixth inning.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Velasquez Zimmer rocketed a double to left-center, scoring two Bears as a result. After holding Alabama State scoreless through the top of the seventh, Missouri State came out of the offensive battle with a 13-8 victory over the Hornets.
 
Only three strikeouts were recorded throughout the entire game as Griesbauer tallied one and the Alabama State pitching staff recorded two. Entering the game in relief, Beason picked up her sixth win of the season after tossing 4.1 innings and surrendering no free passes.
 
Missouri State 2, Samford 1
In her second outing of the weekend, Holly Kelley earned her third win of the season in a rematch against the Samford Bulldogs. After being run-ruled 10-1 at the Louisiana Tech Invitational, Kelley was near perfect through seven innings, surrendering only two hits.
 
All three runs of the game came in the third inning, when Velasquez Zimmer led off the offensive charge with a single into right field. A walk and a pair of steals later, Sullinger laid down a bunt which allowed Velasquez Zimmer to score and Vigneaux to move over to third. With runners on the corners, Frost drove in Missouri State's second and final run of the game with a single into shallow left field, giving the Bears a 2-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the frame.
 
The Bulldogs' two hits and lone run came in the bottom of the third, as a walk and two singles brought around Samford's Whitney Hinton to score. Kelley held Samford scoreless the remainder of the game, earning the 2-1 victory while striking out three in her third complete game of the season.

Coming Up Next
Missouri State wraps up competition at the Leon Smith Classic tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. with a single game against Belmont at Choccolocco Park. For more information on the Missouri State softball team, visit www.missouristatesoftball.com or Twitter (@MSUSoftball).