Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Stats
 
CONWAY, Ark. – Missouri State senior Kyana Mason collected six hits Saturday to help send the Bears (13-7) to a pair of wins at the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic and complete a perfect 5-0 weekend here.
 
Mason went 3-for-4 in Saturday's first game as MSU held off in-state rival Southeast Missouri, 7-4. She then helped the Bears rally from behind against host Central Arkansas in the finale with a home run and game-winning triple in extra innings.
 
The Bears, who extended their win streak to five games, also had solid performances from freshman Payton Minnis (4-for-6) and sophomore hurler Steffany Dickerson (2 wins) on the day.
 
"Our offensive lineup really came together this weekend," said head coach Holly Hesse. "Mason, Minnis and Dickerson all had big performances on both sides of the ball, and I really like where this team is headed as we get closer to conference play."
 
The Bears are scheduled to open their 2019 home schedule Wednesday vs. Arkansas at Killian Stadium with first pitch slated for 5 p.m.
 
 
 
Game 1
Missouri State 7, Southeast Missouri St. 4
 
Missouri State pounded out 13 hits and held off in-state rival, Southeast Missouri State, 7-4 in Saturday's first game.
 
After working around a bases-loaded SEMO threat in the first inning, Dickerson blasted her third home run of the season in the bottom of the inning to help the Bears build an early 3-0 lead. Dickerson's two-run shot to right center came after a leadoff single by Mason and RBI double from Daphne Plummer to set a blistering pace.
 
The Redhawks fought back in the third, scoring two on a single to center by Addison Barnouski to make it a one-run game. Then after the Bears added a run in the fourth on a passed ball, Barnouski burned the Bears again in the fifth with an RBI double to make it a 4-3 contest.
 
But the Bears got things going in the bottom of the fifth. Dickerson smashed a double down the left field line. Ashton Thomas pinch ran for her and came to the plate on a bunt hit by Morgan Greenlee. The Bears then tacked on two more runs on hits by Minnis and Mason to make it 7-3.
 
The Redhawks (12-7) scratched across a run in the top of the seventh and had a couple runners on, but Madison Hunsaker came out of the pen for a nine-pitch save to record the final out and lock down the win.
 
Dickerson struck out four in 6.2 innings of work in a winning effort and finished 3-for-4 at the plate with seven total bases and two RBI.
 
Darby Joerling also helped MSU's cause, joining Mason and Dickerson with three hits for the Bears.
 
 
Game 2
Missouri State 6, Central Arkansas 4 (8 innings)
 
After falling behind 3-0, Missouri State rallied to tie Saturday's late game on a home run by Mason in the fourth and then won it on a triple by Mason in the eighth to finish a 6-4 win over Central Arkansas and secure the tournament title.
 
Mason was 3-for-5 with 4 RBI on the day to lead a 10-hit Bears attack.
 
UCA scored on a passed ball in the opening frame and then tacked on two more in the third on a homer by Libby Morris to jump ahead.
 
But the cardiac cubs were not willing to lie down, rallying in the fourth to tie things up. Madison Orr scored on a UCA error to get Missouri State on the board, and then the Bears tied it with Mason's two-run blast to left – her second of the tournament.
 
The 3-3 tie held until the eighth when Missouri State scored on a sac fly by Alex Boze. The Bears then broke it open on with a two-out triple by Mason to score Minnis and Joerling and give MSU a three-run advantage.
 
UCA managed to add a single run in the bottom of the eighth on a double by Cylla Hill. However, Dickerson (7-3) retired the next three hitters in order to nail it down for MSU.
 
Hill went 3-for-4 to pace Central Arkansas (11-9).
 
MSU starter Erin Griesbauer pitched 4.0 solid innings and struck out three while allowing just two earned runs, while Dickerson gave up two hits and struck out two in 4.0 innings in relief.
 
Minnis also contributed to the Missouri State attack, going 2-for-3.