PEORIA, Ill. – Holding the Braves scoreless through 14 innings Saturday afternoon, the Missouri State softball team dished out two dominating performances to improve its record to 6-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference and 18-11 overall.
 
Game 1
Missouri State 4, Bradley 0
Timely hitting and a solid defensive effort produced a 4-0, Missouri State victory to kick off the Bears' and Braves' inaugural series at Petersen Hotels Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.
 
With two outs in the top of the first, an illegal pitch on a full count placed Madison Jones safely on first base. The following at-bat, senior Bethany Sullinger smashed a double to the left-field wall, scoring Jones from first. On the play, the Bradley left fielder attempted to throw out Sullinger at second and sent the ball sailing into right field, allowing Sullinger extend the Bears' lead, 2-0.
 
The Braves prevented the Bears from scoring for five more innings until back-to-back singles in the top of the sixth put immediate pressure on the Bradley defense. After a sacrifice bunt moved runners into scoring position, senior Mary Stephens ripped a single up the middle to score Missouri State's third run of the game.
 
The Bears put the nails in the coffin in the top of the seventh, after Sara Jones reached first on a fielding error by the Bradley third baseman. Following another sacrifice bunt, junior Hailee Vigneaux brought in the Bears' fourth run after dropping a single in the outfield.
 
Holding Bradley scoreless through seven complete innings, junior starter Kaitlin Beason (9-5) held the Braves to just five hits in her sixth shutout of the season. Registering two strikeouts with no walks, the hurler induced 12 grounders and seven fly outs en route to the Bears' fifth MVC win.
 
 
Game 2
Missouri State 5, Bradley 0
Preventing a run from scoring through its 32^nd inning, the Missouri State softball team clinched the series against Bradley during its fourth shutout in MVC play.
 
Missouri State continued the score-first trend after taking an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Mary Stephens led off the inning with a double into deep left field and senior Olivia Roark stepped in to pinch run. Following the switch, a missed throw from the Bradley center fielder caused the ball to go soaring into the Braves' dugout, allowing Roark to advance two bases for the Bears' first run of the game.
 
After a three-inning dry spell, the Bears' bats came alive in the top of the sixth, beginning with a Madison Jones single to second base. The next pitch, Sullinger recorded her second double of the day, bringing in Jones to extend the Bears' lead to 2-0.
 
Sophomore Darian Frost laid down a sacrifice bunt to move pinch-runner Kyana Mason over to third. With two balls and one strike, Stephens smashed a single down the left-field line to bring in Mason and make it a 3-0 ball game. The Bears offensive surge was not done as Gambill launched an RBI triple and sophomore Morgan Greenlee produced a sacrifice fly, giving the Bears' a commanding 5-0 lead nearing the end of the game.
 
Surrendering just two hits in seven innings, Missouri State starter Holly Kelley tossed another shutout in her masterful appearance against the Braves. Matching Beason's strikeouts from game one, the junior did not surrender a walk and allowed just one runner to reach second base.

Coming Up Next
The Bears close out its series against Bradley tomorrow with an 11 a.m. matchup at Petersen Hotels Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex. For all the latest news on the Missouri State softball team, visit www.missouristatebears.com or follow @MSUSoftball on Twitter.