Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Stats | MVC-Only Stats
 
SPRINGFIELD – A furious comeback in game one and a shutout pitching effort in game two propelled the Missouri State softball Bears (25-15, 10-4 MVC) to a doubleheader sweep of visiting Bradley (15-22, 4-8) here Saturday at a cold and windy Killian Stadium.
 
The Bears won the first game, 8-7, before winning the night cap, 3-0.
 
Madison Jones and Kaitlin Beason each had three hits in the doubleheader for the Bears, who improved to 8-5 at Killian Stadium this season.
 
Saturday was also the program's Legacy Celebration Day at the stadium, commemorating 50 years of Missouri State softball and the 30^th year of head coach Holly Hesse's career at MSU.
 
"It was just an awesome weekend to have alums back and to have so many former Bears in the stands," said Hesse. "It was just a great day for our program, and that support was felt by every player."
 
 
Game 1
Missouri State 8, Bradley 7
 
Missouri State overcame a four-run deficit in the opener, mounting four runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth for an 8-7 victory.
 
Madison Hunsaker (4-0) came on in relief of starter Holly Kelley in the second and struck out a season-best nine Bradley hitters in 5.2 innings of work.
 
"The key thing was putting Rocket (Hunsaker) into pitch," said Hesse. "She is a changeup pitcher, and she did a nice job getting outs with the changeup. I thought that was the key – her coming in and shutting them down."
 
After Bradley took control early, plating two runs in the first and second innings to grab a 4-0 advantage, MSU began chipping away. A solo homer by Kaitlin Beason in the bottom of the second, her fifth of the season, made it a 4-1 game.
 
But in the fourth, the Bears broke through for good, mounting a decisive four-run rally to take a lead they would not relinquish. In perhaps the biggest at-bat of the game, a bases-loaded walk to Allie Alvstad started the fireworks and gave MSU its second run of the game. Two batters later, Madison Jones' base-clearing double with two outs scored three and put the Bears on top, 5-4.
 
In the fifth, the Bears capitalized on an error that put leadoff hitter Darian Frost aboard. RBI singles by Beason, Hannah Heinrichs and Erika Velasquez Zimmer followed to make it an 8-4 contest.
 
Bradley plated three unearned runs in the top of the seventh, culminating with a three-run homer by pinch hitter Kealia Wysocki – her fifth – to bring some drama to the final inning.
 
Allison Apke, who drove in Bradley's first run of the game, finished 3-for-3. The Braves generated nine hits, including at least one in each inning.
 
Beason was 3-for-3 for MSU, while Madison Jones was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI.
 
 
Game 2
Missouri State 3, Bradley 0
 
Missouri State stormed out of the gates to plate three runs in the bottom of the first inning and got a complete-game shutout from sophomore hurler Erin Griesbauer en route to a 3-0 win in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.
 
Hailee Vigneaux started MSU's first-inning eruption after the Bradley first baseman dropped a throw from third base. Jones moved her into scoring position with a single up the middle before Daphne Plummer loaded the bases with a walk. Frost then drove home two with a single to right center, and Beason smacked a deep fly ball to right that resulted in a sac fly to score Plummer and make it a 3-0 contest.
 
Griesbauer (8-3) brought it home from there. She allowed just five Bradley hits – four singles – and struck out six in her first shutout of the year.
 
"I thought Erin did a good job of keeping them off balance and getting ground ball outs," said Hesse.
 
The Bears scattered four singles off Bradley's Emma Jackson (6-4) on the day, but only two after the decisive first-inning rally.
 
 
Coming Up Next
The clubs will conclude the three-game series with a single game Sunday at 11 a.m. as the Bears' Legacy Weekend celebration to commemorate 50 years of Bears softball continues.
 
For all the latest information on the Missouri State softball team, including weather and schedule updates, visit MissouriStateBears.com or follow @MSUSoftball on Twitter.