Game 1 Box Score |
Game 2 Box Score |
Season Stats
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Missouri State freshman catcher
Alex Boze smashed a three-run homer in the top of the fifth against No. 6 Alabama here Saturday afternoon to bring the Bears charging back from an early deficit in the Easton Bama Bash.
The Crimson Tide (13-0) ultimately prevailed, 7-5, but Missouri State gained the respect of its SEC foe. The Bears also defeated Louisiana Monroe, 4-1, earlier in the day.
""I'm very proud of our team and how they competed today," said MSU head coach
Holly Hesse. "Our pitching staff really battled, and we got good production from the bottom of our order in both games.
"We are so excited for
Alex Boze. To hit a clutch home run against a team that has a chance to compete for a national title is something she will always remember. She really exemplifies the way our freshmen are competing and getting better each day.
The Bears (8-6) wrap up the tournament Sunday at 11:30 a.m. against No. 24 Minnesota.
Game 1
Missouri State 4, Louisiana Monroe 1
Missouri State (8-5) used a four-run fourth inning to roll past Louisiana Monroe, 4-1, and record the Bears' second victory of the tournament.
Darby Joerling started the breakout inning with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Joerling then scored on an RBI single by
Bailey Greenlee. The MSU starting pitcher came home moments later when
Kyana Mason reached on a ULM error to make it 2-0.
The inning continued on a walk to
Morgan Greenlee who set the table for a two-run double to right center by
Madison Hunsaker to make it a 4-0 game.
ULM (1-12) had just two hits the rest of the way -- both in the top of the fifth. The Warhawks scored their only run in that inning on an RBI hit by Jaclyn Kresta to send Rylee Lara around to score. Lara started the inning off with a walk.
The Bears were out-hit by a 5-4 margin, but rode
Bailey Greenlee's arm to victory. The freshman struck out three in 4.1 innings of work to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Steffany Dickerson closed out the game's final 2.2 innings, also striking out three in that span while not allowing any runs.
ULM's Bailey Thibodeaux and Kresta led all players with two hits apiece.
Game 2
Alabama 7, Missouri State 5
In Saturday's second game, the Bears counter-punched their way into a dramatic finish against No. 6 Alabama. The Crimson Tide ultimately held on for a 7-5 decision despite eight hits and solid defense by the Bears.
With Alabama leading 6-1 in the top of the fifth, Boze smashed a three-run homer to left – her first career dinger – to make it a 6-4 game. Her deep fly followed a leadoff double by
Kelly Metter and base hit by
Darby Joerling that set the table for Boze's home run.
After a substantial rain delay, the Bears brought in
Bailey Greenlee from the bullpen. She was greeted with an inside-the-park home run by Skylar Wallace in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 7-4 game. However, MSU responded again in the sixth, loading the bases before a single to left by Mason with two outs to make it 7-5.
Bailey Greenlee then pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning to keep the Bears within striking distance. Her sister,
Morgan Greenlee, kept the momentum going with a leadoff walk to start the seventh, bringing the tying run to the plate.
But UA's Sarah Cornell earned her first save, inducing a force out, a strikeout and a ground ball to end Missouri State's efforts to hand the host team its first loss of the year.
Metter, who also had an RBI double in the second to cut into an early 2-0 Alabama lead, went 2-for-3, as did Joerling.
"
Kelly Metter was really clutch for us," said Hesse. "She had two doubles and then had a home run taken away on a fantastic catch in the sixth. She's really developing into a team leader, and it was evident today."
In addition to her three-run blast, Boze also walked twice and reached base three times.
Elissa Brown led Alabama by going 3-for-3, while K.B. Sides and Caroline Hardy each drove in two runs.
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