NORMAL, Ill. – The Missouri State softball team (22-19, 10-10 MVC) battled back, but a four-run fourth inning for Illinois State (27-17, 17-3 MVC) was too much to overcome as the Bears dropped game three, 5-2, at Marian Kneer Stadium, Sunday afternoon.
 
Making her 20^th start in the circle, junior Kaitlin Beason (12-8) held the Redbirds scoreless for two innings before reliever, and fellow-junior, Holly Kelley took the rubber in the bottom of the third.  
 
The Redbirds put pressure on the MSU defense in Kelley's opening inning, loading the bases on three walks with just one out. Bouncing back, Kelley dished out her single strikeout of the day for out number two and induced a pop up in foul territory to get the Bears out of the jam.
 
In response, back-to-back singles from Olivia Roark and Erika Velasquez Zimmer put two runners on base early in the top of the fifth. However, a fielder's choice and grounder to third ended the Bears' threat.
 
The Illinois State bats awakened in the bottom of the fourth where the Redbirds recorded two consecutive singles and an intentional walk to load the bases. On two outs, a walk and back-to-back hits allowed four runs to score, giving the Redbirds a 4-0 lead.
 
After both teams put up goose eggs in the fifth inning, the Bears came charging back – beginning with a leadoff single from Beason. Following the leadoff spark, an infield single and sacrifice bunt placed pinch runner Kyana Mason and Elena Gambill in prime scoring position.
 
Picking up her second hit of the day, Roark was the lone Bear to rake in an RBI as she smoked a two-out, RBI single up the middle – scoring both Mason and Gambill to cut the Redbirds' lead, 4-2.
 
Making her third appearance on the weekend, freshman pitcher Erin Griesbauer surrendered Illinois State's final run of the game as Illinois State completed the series sweep with its 5-2 victory. Kelley (9-9) took the loss for the Bears after tossing 1.2 innings and striking out one.
 
Coming Up Next
The Bears return home to Springfield for a five-game home stand, beginning with its series finale against Wichita State on Tuesday, April 25. Scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., admission to Tuesday's "orange game" against the Shockers is free and all donated proceeds will benefit cancer research at St. Jude.
 
For all the latest information on the Missouri State softball team, visit missouristatebears.com or follow @MSUSoftball on Twitter.