NORMAL, Ill. – The Missouri State softball team (22-18, 10-9 MVC) attempted to bounce back in game two, but Illinois State's ability to send the ball out of the park proved to be too much as the Bears dropped a pair of Missouri Valley Conference matches to the Redbirds (26-17, 16-3 MVC) at Marian Kneer Stadium, Saturday afternoon.
 
Game 1
Illinois State 7, Missouri State 2
 
Coming out of the gates swinging, Illinois State racked up eight of its 14 hits in the first three innings to take an early 2-0 lead over the Bears heading to the top of the fourth.
 
After a scorched ground out to first base, junior outfielder Hailee Vigneaux drew a one-out walk to kick things off for the Bears. The next at-bat, senior Bethany Sullinger sent her fourth home run of the season sailing over the left-field wall to tie up the game at two runs apiece.
 
Illinois State would utilize the long ball as well, answering the Bears' two runs with four of their own in the bottom of the frame. The Redbirds recorded back-to-back singles to start the inning and took a 3-2 lead off an error in deep left field. Illinois State extended its lead to 6-2 after ISU's Jordan de los Reyes – the MVC leader in home runs – sent her 14th homer of the season out of the park off of MSU starter Kaitlin Beason (12-8).
 
Taking over the circle the next inning, freshman Erin Griesbauer (1-2) recorded one strikeout and two grounders to hold off the Redbirds in the bottom of the fifth. Illinois State earned its final run of the contest off an Alyssa Wiebel solo-homer over the right-field fence.
 
The Redbirds out-hit Missouri State 14-6 while Griesbauer limited Illinois State to just two hits. Unable to overcome the five-run deficit, Beason took the loss for the Bears after tossing four complete innings and striking out one.
 
Game 2
Illinois State 5, Missouri State 3
 
Scoring first in its 26th game of the season, the Bears jumped on the board early after junior Erika Velasquez Zimmer led off the inning with a single through the left side. Advancing to second off a wild pitch, the speedster was then moved to third off a textbook, sacrifice bunt laid down by Vigneaux.
 
On a 2-0 count, Sullinger picked up her third RBI of the day as she smoked a single up the middle to score Velasquez Zimmer and give the Bears a 1-0 lead. Following a one-out walk, sophomore catcher Darian Frost ripped a stand-up double to right-center field, bringing in the Bears' second run of the game.
                                                               
Missouri State stretched its lead further in the top of the third as Sullinger lined her second home run of the day, and fifth of the season, over the left-field wall.
MSU starter Holly Kelley (9-8) held the conference-leading Redbirds scoreless until the bottom of the fifth, when Illinois State belted a pair of two-run homers to go ahead 4-2 – its first and final lead of the game. After the Redbirds scored one more run off Kelley in the bottom of the fifth, Griesbauer made her second appearance of the day and closed out the inning.
 
The Bear defense held off the Redbirds in the sixth inning to bring up the heart of the Missouri State lineup – Sullinger, Beason and Frost. Bethany Sullinger kicked off the Bears' seventh inning effort with a single into left field. Despite moving two runners into scoring position, a pair of ground outs ended the Bears' rally as Missouri State fell 5-3 to Illinois State.
 
Sullinger, a consistent offensive weapon for the Bears, went a perfect four-for-four in game two and blasted two home runs on the day. Bringing in a total of 4 RBI against the Redbirds, the senior now leads the Missouri State squad with five home runs, 24 RBI, 67 total bases and a .598 slugging percentage.
 
Coming Up Next
The Bears and Redbirds return to action tomorrow morning for a single game slated for 11 a.m. at Marian Kneer Stadium. Sunday's game will be broadcasted on The Valley on ESPN3. For more information on the Missouri State softball team, visit missouristatebears.com or follow @MSUSoftball on Twitter.