Box Score | Season Stats | MVC-Only Stats
 
SPRINGFIELD – Northern Iowa strung together three consecutive hits in the bottom of the first inning and held on for a 2-1 victory over Missouri State here Saturday, securing the series win for the Panthers.
 
Missouri State (20-14, 5-4 MVC) scattered four hits and left just two runners on base as UNI starter Jaclyn Spencer (7-6) went the distance and struck out three.
 
"This game could have gone either way, and unfortunately it didn't go our way," said MSU head coach Holly Hesse. "I could not be more pleased with our effort. We squared up a lot of balls and hit some shots that ordinarily would be hits – they just made some great plays.
 
"We were great defensively. Rocket (Hunsaker) was amazing in relief. We have six weeks to get better, and that's our focus right now is just keep getting better."
 
UNI's three straight hits in the first inning chased Bears' starter Steffany Dickerson (5-5). Back-to-back doubles by Kennedy Bailey and Ashley Chesser set up Brittney Krodinger's RBI single to give the Panthers an early 2-0 lead.
 
After Krodinger's hit, Madison Hunsaker came on in relief for MSU and set down the first 10 batters she faced to keep the Bears in the contest. She allowed just three singles over 5.1 innings of work with no walks and a strikeout.
 
MSU finally got to Spencer in the top of the fifth, plating a single run on a sac fly by Kaitlin Beason after freshmen Hunsaker and Kelly Metter started the inning with back-to-back singles.
 
The Bears also made some noise in the top of the seventh on a deep fly ball off the bat of Darian Frost that UNI right fielder Jenny Kohl tracked down on a dead sprint up against the wall.
 
UNI (18-14, 3-4 MVC) finished with six hits – two apiece by Bailey and Krodinger – and stranded four in the 94-minute contest.
 
 
Coming Up Next
The Bears host Central Arkansas on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Killian Stadium before resuming Valley play at Evansville next Saturday and Sunday.
 
For all the latest information on the Missouri State softball team, visit MissouriStateBears.com or follow @MSUSoftball on Twitter.