Box Score | Season Stats
 
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – A pair of clutch hits by Indiana State first baseman Mary Turitto led the Sycamores to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Missouri State here Sunday in the final game of a three-game MVC softball series.
 
MSU (20-13, 8-4 MVC) won two out of three in the series and sits one game behind conference leader Illinois State in The Valley standings.
 
The Bears set the pace early with a two-run rally in the top of the first inning. After Erika Velasquez Zimmer reached on a one-out slap single, Madison Jones was hit by a pitch, and Bethany Sullinger walked on four pitches to load the bases. Kaitlin Beason then slammed an 0-1 pitch off the centerfield fence to score two.
 
That score held until the fifth when Indiana State (17-19, 3-9) began chipping away. The Sycamores plated single tallies in both the fifth and sixth innings to tie the game. In the fifth, ISU chased in on a leadoff single by Gabi Carter when Kylie Stober scored Carter with a one-out sac fly. In the sixth, Turitto tied the game with a solo homer to lead off the inning. Her second home run of the season came on a 1-2 pitch, chased MSU starter Kaitlin Beason, and gave new life to the home club.
 
After the Bears squandered a leadoff triple by Velasquez Zimmer in the top of the seventh – her fourth hit of the game -- ISU collected a pair of singles in the bottom of the inning off Bears' reliever Holly Kelley. Kelley (9-5) got a pair of pop outs to hold off the Sycamore charge momentarily, but Turitto struck the final blow with another two-strike hit, this time a game-winning, walk-off double to left.
 
"I thought for the third game, our pitchers gave us everything we needed to win," said head coach Holly Hesse. "I thought our defense was just one play away from being flawless."
 
Missouri State gave up just three earned runs in the three-game set and committed just one error – a come-backer to Beason that extended ISU's fifth-inning rally Sunday.
 
Indiana State out-hit the Bears, 9-8, while MSU stranded nine – seven in scoring position and at least one runner in each of the last four innings.
 
"I'm disappointed we had so many opportunities with runners in scoring position and didn't come up with more timely hits," Hesse explained.
 
Sycamore starter Kenzie Ihle (13-10) went the distance, striking out six.
 
Missouri State resumes MVC play at Killian Stadium this Friday and Saturday for a three-game series with Evansville. Friday's doubleheader starts at Noon and will be featured on ESPN3.  
 
 
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