Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Stats | MVC-Only Stats
 
SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State (15-6, 3-1 MVC) rode the arms of starting pitchers Steffany Dickerson and Erin Griesbauer to a pair of Missouri Valley Conference softball wins over visiting Loyola here Saturday, 2-1 and 1-0.
 
Dickerson (9-3) went the distance in game one, striking out six with no walks and no earned runs, while Griesbauer (4-5) tossed her second complete-game of the year and first shutout in game two, keeping the Ramblers in check on three hits and three strikeouts.
 
"Every time we play Loyola, it's going to be a low-scoring game," said MSU head coach Holly Hesse. "We needed a good defensive performance and we got it today."
 
Loyola (15-6, 0-2) got three hits on the day from leadoff specialist Jessica Shields.
 
The teams will square off in the series finale Sunday at 11 a.m. at Killian Stadium with free admission for all fans.
 

Game 1
Missouri State 2, Loyola 1
 
Daphne Plummer's walk-off single secured a 2-1 comeback win for Missouri State as part of a three-hit seventh inning for the Bears in game one.
 
Plummer's dramatic smash in the final inning followed a one-out infield hit by Darby Joerling, who was 2-for-3 on the game, and a single to left by Kyana Mason.
 
Dickerson allowed just three hits, struck out six and didn't walk anyone as she picked up her ninth victory.
 
Loyola broke up a scoreless game in the fourth on an RBI groundout by Abby Jacobsen that scored Shannon McGee. McGee started the inning with an infield hit and was safe on a Bears' throwing error at second on a comebacker hit by Allyson Ivey. The Ramblers took advantage of the misplay, sacrificing McGee to third before Jacobsen's RBI grounder broke up a scoreless contest.
 
The Bears responded in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game. Kelly Metter's one-out double set the stage for an infield hit by Joerling and a walk to Kyana Mason to load the bases. Loyola changed pitchers, and reliever Madison Veres walked Plummer to bring around the tying run.
 
After Jacobsen's RBI groundout in the fourth, Dickerson retired the next 10 batters she faced to lock down the win for the Bears.
 
 
Game 2
Missouri State 1, Loyola 0
 
 
A sixth-inning squeeze bunt by Dickerson brought home the game's only run, and lifted the Bears to a dramatic 1-0 win over Loyola in game two to secure the doubleheader sweep.
 
The game-winning rally started on a one-out hit by Mason, followed by a fielder's choice grounder by Plummer that Loyola threw away, moving Mason to third and Plummer to second. The next batter, Dickerson, laid down a great squeeze bunt to plate the speedy Mason.
 
Griesbauer did the rest, working around a pair of two-out singles in the top of the seventh in an otherwise magnificent outing. She faced 23 batters and allowed just three hits with one walk to secure the shutout.
 
Loyola's only other hit was a single by Shields in the fourth before she was called out for leaving first base too early.
 
MSU scattered four hits – all in its last three at-bats – to secure the victory.
 
Loyola starter Kiley Jones (8-2) struck out four in a complete-game.
 
"Jones is a tough pitcher, and that was a gutsy call by coach Beth (Perine) on the squeeze play and great execution by Steff," said Hesse.