Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Stats | MVC Stats
 
SPRINGFIELD – Highlighted by a walk-off grand slam from Darian Frost, the Missouri State softball team (27-15, 12-4 MVC) overcame a pair of three-run deficits in its Missouri Valley Conference sweep over Southern Illinois, Wednesday at Killian Stadium.
 
The Bears tallied 17 hits in the day's twin bill, where Daphne Plummer and Madison Jones led the MSU lineup with three hits apiece. Claiming the Bears' second grand slam of the season, Frost collected six of the Bears' 12 RBI against the Salukis.
 
"This team doesn't quit until the fight is over and everybody does something to make things happen," head coach Holly Hesse said. "All four pitchers gave us quality innings today and different hitters stepped up all day long."
 
GAME ONE – Missouri State 7, Southern Illinois 6
Missouri State began the day with a thrilling contest that saw four lead changes in seven innings. After picking up back-to-back singles, SIU jumped on the board in the opening inning after a hit snuck its way through the left side. Despite the early lead, MSU came storming back in the home half of the first.
 
Showing off her speed, senior Madison Jones used a leadoff single to get the Bear offense rolling. Three pitches later, Erika Velasquez Zimmer unleashed an RBI triple that made its way to the left-center field fence to tie up the game.  
 
The Bears' first-inning onslaught continued two batters later when Frost lifted her fourth sacrifice fly of the season into deep left field. Velasquez Zimmer, who collected the Bears' 15^th triple of the season, made an easy trot home to give the Bears a 2-1 lead. Highlighting the bottom of the frame, senior Kaitlin Beason launched the 20^th home run of her career on a monster shot over the left-field wall to put the Bears up, 3-1. Moving up in the MSU record books, she now ties for third all-time in career home runs.
 
Following a walk and a hit batter from MSU starter Erin Griesbauer in the top of the third, the Salukis pushed across two runs to force a pitching change. The Bears turned to freshman Madison Hunsaker one hitter later and SIU's Megan Brown launched a three-run homer to give the Salukis a 6-3 advantage.
 
However, the Bears were resolved to even up the score a second time and began its third-inning rally with a bunt from Velasquez Zimmer. Plummer followed up with a single to center and Frost collected her second RBI of the day with scorcher through the left side. Beason drew a 4-0 walk to load the bases, then SIU starter Brianna Jones scored two Bears on back-to-back, bases-loaded walks to even up the score at six runs apiece.
 
After Hunsaker and the Bear defense held off SIU in the fourth and fifth inning, the MSU lineup buckled down and immediately put pressure on the defending Salukis. Beason was issued her second walk of the day and was then moved over to second on a Hannah Heinrichs single up the middle. Following a wild pitch that moved the pair into scoring position, Steffany Dickerson roped an RBI single that brought in the game-winning run from third. Hunsaker and the Bear defense closed out the game with a three-up, three-down stand in the seventh to clinch the 7-6 win.
 
In relief, Hunsaker struck out four hitters in her 4.1 inning appearance. The southpaw surrendered just one run and kept the Salukis off the board for four consecutive innings to claim her fifth win of the season.
 
GAME TWO – Missouri State 7, Southern Illinois 4
Coming back in game two, the Salukis put instant pressure on the MSU defense and loaded the bases in the top of the first with just one out. Helping her own cause, starting pitcher Steffany Dickerson was able to escape the jam after she snagged a line drive back to the circle and turned the double play at first.
 
However, the Salukis took an early lead and produced two runs off three hits and one error in the top of the third. After the second run of the inning scored on a wild pitch from Dickerson, MSU sent in senior Holly Kelley to take over the circle. Making her 20^th appearance of the season, Kelley struck out the next two hitters to end the threat. SIU took a 3-1 lead one inning later when Savannah Fisher sent a solo homer sailing over the left-field wall.
 
The Bears responded in the bottom of the fifth after Kelley helped her own cause with a double that bounced off the top of the center-field wall. After Hailee Vigneaux singled to center, the Bears took advantage of a Saluki error and plated two runs to cut into SIU's lead, 3-2. Madison Jones was moved over to third on a ground out to the pitcher and a deep sacrifice fly from Plummer brought her in to tie up the game, 3-3.
 
SIU's Kyleigh Decker was hit by a pitch to kick off the top of the sixth and she advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt one hitter later. The Salukis pushed across their fourth run of the game on an RBI single up the middle, then blanked MSU in the bottom of the frame to hold a 4-3 lead going into the seventh.
 
Showing composure in the circle, Kelley notched back-to-back strikeouts and induced a ground out to send the Bears back into the dugout in hopes of a walk-off.
 
Registering her second hit of the game, Jones produced a one-out single to start the MSU rally. Velasquez Zimmer continued the come-from-behind effort after SIU's left fielder dropped a ball that allowed Jones and Velasquez Zimmer to enter scoring position. In the next at-bat, Plummer was beamed in the shoulder to bring up Frost with just one out. Giving MSU its final spark, Frost completed MSU's second comeback of the day with a walk-off grand slam to secure the 7-4 victory.
 
"Darian has won probably half a dozen games for us now in the bottom of the seventh," Hesse said with a smile. "It's so nice to know that you have somebody that you can depend on in those situations."
 
Striking out six, Kelley surrendered just three hits and improved to 9-3 on the season. With the sweep, MSU improves to 27-15 overall and 12-4 in league play.
 
Coming Up Next
The Bears continue MVC action on April 21-22 with a three-game series at Loyola. For all the latest information on the Missouri State softball team, visit MissouriStateBears.com or follow @MSUSoftball on Twitter.