NORMAN, Okla. –
Hailee Vigneaux and
Kyana Mason led the Missouri State softball team (8-7) with one hit apiece in the Bears' 6-0 loss to the two-time defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners, Friday night at Marita Hynes Field.
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After holding the Bears scoreless to start the game, the Sooners got out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a leadoff triple and two-run homer off of MSU hurler
Holly Kelley (3-2). Unable to answer in the top of the second, OU tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the frame on three hits and one MSU throwing error.
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Registering the Bears' first hit of the game, Vigneaux broke up OU starter Paige Parker's no-hitter in the top of the third with leadoff single up the middle. Sophomore
Hannah Heinrichs drew a walk the next at back to move Vigneaux into scoring position, but a strikeout and two ground balls ended the Bears' threat.
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Throwing in relief, freshman
Steffany Dickerson kept the Sooners off the board in the bottom of the third, but OU was able to extend their lead 5-0 after three consecutive singles plated another run.
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The Bear defense silenced the fourth-ranked Sooners in the bottom of the fifth, and Mason sparked the MSU bats with a single off of relief pitcher Parker Conrad to start the top of the sixth inning. However, the Bears hit back-to-back ground balls to short, and a strikeout ended the inning.
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OU tallied its final run in the bottom of the sixth after a fielder's choice and walk put runners on first and second. On one out, Sydney Romero delivered an RBI single and scored the Sooner on second to give OU its sixth run of the game.
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Kelly and Dickerson both recorded two strikeouts and surrendered six hits apiece. Kelley was dealt the loss as the Bears fell to 8-7 overall.
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Coming Up Next
The Bears return to the diamond tomorrow for a 12 p.m. matchup against Abilene Christian, followed by a rematch against the Sooners at 5 p.m. For all the latest information on the Missouri State softball team, visit
missouristatebears.com or follow
@MSUSoftball on Twitter.
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#MSUBears
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