Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Stats | MVC Only Stats
 
SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State split a doubleheader here Friday against Missouri Valley Conference foe Northern Iowa, winning the first game, 8-4, before dropping the night cap, 5-0.
 
Erika Velasquez Zimmer and Darian Frost each posted three hits on the afternoon to lead MSU (20-13, 5-3 MVC).
 
The series was originally scheduled to be played at UNI, but significant snow coverage in Cedar Falls forced it to be moved to Springfield.
 
 
Game 1
Missouri State 8, UNI 4
 
Missouri State used the momentum of a five-run first inning to capture an 8-4 win and its 20^th victory of the campaign in game one.
 
The Bears took the fight to UNI out of the gates, taking a commanding lead in the opening frame. An RBI single by Madison Hunsaker and two-run hit by fellow freshman Kelly Metter provided the muscle in the top of the first. The Bears also took advantage of a pair of UNI errors to cap the rally.
 
UNI notched a couple of hits in the bottom of the first, including an RBI single by Kennedy Bailey, to put the Panthers on the board and make it a 5-1 game.
 
The Bears then added a pair of key insurance runs in the top of the second. Hailee Vigneaux led off the inning with a base hit and a stolen base. Two batters later, Kaitlin Beason hit a slow roller to second that resulted in a fielding error, and Vigneaux raced all the way around to score from second. The next hitter, Darian Frost, then made it a 7-1 game with a sac fly to right to score Beason.
 
The Panthers scratched back with an unearned run in the second and two more in the third on a two-out triple by Ashley Chesser to get within 7-4. 
 
But, MSU turned to its bullpen to secure the win. Madison Hunsaker (3-0) came on in relief of starter Holly Kelley and allowed just one hit over the next 2.1 innings to earn the win. Erin Griesbauer closed out the final two innings to capture her second save.
 
All three MSU hurlers accounted for two strikeouts apiece.
 
The Bears helped their own cause in the seventh on an RBI single by Erika Velasquez Zimmer to double up the Panthers, 8-4.
 
UNI starter Jaclyn Spencer (6-6) allowed seven unearned runs and struck out two.
 
Four different MSU players had multiple hits with Velasquez Zimmer, Vigneaux, Frost and Metter combining for eight of the Bears' 10 hits.
 
 
Game 2
UNI 5, Missouri State 0
 
The Panthers evened the series with an early barrage of offense in a 5-0 win in game two. UNI scattered eight hits – four for extra bases – to pick up its second Valley win of the year.
 
After a single tally in the second, the Panthers chased MSU starter Griesbauer with a power display in the bottom of the third. Doubles by Bailey and Ashley Chesser preceded a two-run home run by Brittney Krodinger to cap a three-run inning and make it 4-0.
 
After UNI starter Brooke Craig (9-5) retired 10 straight MSU hitters, the Bears threatened in the top of the fifth. Frost lined a single off Craig, and Hunsaker doubled to center before a walk to Kelly Metter loaded the bases with no outs. Hannah Heinrichs then smoked a liner to the right side that was speared by Bailey who stepped on the bag for a double play. Madison Jones then grounded out to short on a sharp one-hopper to end the rally.
 
MSU got singles by Velasquez Zimmer and Daphne Plummer in the sixth, but another UNI double play erased the Bears' opportunity to get back in the game.
 
Spencer tacked on an insurance run for the Panthers in the bottom of the sixth with her second home run of the year, and Emma Olejniczak pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to give UNI its seventh shutout win of the season.
 
Steffany Dickerson allowed just one hit in 3.1 innings of work in relief of MSU starter Griesbauer (5-2), striking out one and walking one.

 
Coming Up Next
The Bears and Panthers conclude their three-game series on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Killian Stadium. Admission is free for the game.
 
For all the latest information on the Missouri State softball team, visit MissouriStateBears.com or follow @MSUSoftball on Twitter.