Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Stats
 
WICHITA, Kan. – In their final series in Wichita as conference rivals, Missouri State and Wichita State split a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader here Wednesday with the Bears (22-16, 10-7 MVC) winning the first game, 4-0, and the Shockers (27-15, 12-5 MVC) taking the night cap, 4-0.
 
Both teams did all their scoring on two-run homers. The Bears also got a solid outing in the circle from Kaitlin Beason in game one as she secured her eighth shutout of the season.
 
"Wichita State is a good-hitting team, and for us to shut them out for seven innings is certainly a phenomenal effort by Kaitlin Beason and (catcher) Darian Frost," said MSU head coach Holly Hesse. "Two home runs by two seniors in the first game really led the way."
 
MSU and Wichita State will wrap their 2017 conference series in Springfield next Tuesday, April 25, on "Orange Day" at Killian Stadium. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.
 
The Bears resume league play this Saturday and Sunday at conference-leading Illinois State (23-17, 13-3 MVC) in Normal. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at Noon (Central), followed by a single game at 11 a.m. Sunday. All three games will air on ESPN3.
 
Game 1
Missouri State 4, Wichita State 0
 
Kaitlin Beason (12-7) pitched her eighth shutout of the season, scattering seven singles and a walk in a complete game 4-0 win.
 
Elena Gambill got the scoring started in the top of the fourth with her first homer of the season, a two-run blast to left with one out, to make it a 2-0 game. The long fly followed a leadoff double by Darian Frost to start the inning and ignite the Bears' offense.
 
Mary Stephens then tacked on another pair of runs in the MSU half of the seventh with a two-run blast off the scoreboard in left field, her fourth of the year. Beason reached on a one-out single up the middle to spark the flurry. Stephens' homer plated pinch runner Carsten Warner, who ran for Beason, and made the senior just the fifth Bear to reach 100 career RBI.
 
Frost, Gambill and Erika Velasquez Zimmer accounted for two hits apiece for the MSU offense, which out-hit WSU by a 9-7 margin. Senior Olivia Roark also earned her 100^th career start in the contest.
 
The Bears, who picked up their 10^th MVC win of the season, became just the second opponent this year to shut out the Shockers. It was also MSU's 11^th error-free game of the campaign.
 
"I thought all day long we came up with big plays in big moments," said Hesse. "Our defense continues to be consistent and solid."
 
Game 2
Wichita State 4, Missouri State 0
 
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Bears were out-hit 8-3, but it was a four-run fifth inning by the Shockers that decided the otherwise even contest in a 4-0 WSU decision.
 
Wichita State used a pair of two-run blasts in the bottom of the fifth to blow the game open. Mackenzie Wright's one-out homer to leftfield – her fourth of the season – broke up a scoreless ball game. Two batters later, the Shockers put up two more runs with a long home run to center by McKenzie Adams, the first of her career.
 
The four-run outburst by the home club chased MSU starter Holly Kelley (9-7) who struck out two and walked two in 4.1 innings of work. Erin Griesbauer pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief for the Bears to end the game on a strong note.
 
"I thought Holly Kelley did a good job," said Hesse. "Four hitters in a row just came in and got something done for Wichita State. I was really proud of Erin Griesbauer who came in relief and shut them down."
 
WSU starter Jenni Brooks (3-4) closed out her fourth complete-game of the season, allowing four walks and striking out two.
 
Bethany Sullinger accounted for two of MSU's three hits, including a two-out double in the first inning as part of a three-hit day by the senior.