Box Score | Season Stats | MVC-Only Stats
 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri State got a complete-game effort from junior Erin Griesbauer and two RBI from freshman Payton Minnis to turn back UMKC, 4-1, here Tuesday afternoon in the final non-conference game of the year for the Bears.
 
Kyana Mason and Minnis hit back-to-back triples in the fifth to push the visitors ahead 2-0 before pulling away in the seventh after a Kangaroos' throwing error scored two more. Griesbauer (7-7) went the distance for MSU, allowing six hits, one run, no walks and three strikeouts.
 
Missouri State (27-17) never trailed and picked up four clutch hits with runners on base to improve to 16-9 outside the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
"It was an outstanding effort by Erin in the circle," said MSU head coach Holly Hesse. "She really competed and had good command today. It was also great to see some extra-base hits and some clutch hits by our offense. I'm really proud of Payton Minnis, Kyana Mason and Rachel Weber for coming through in key situations today."
 
The Bears broke on top in the third with the game's first run. A leadoff walk to Weber set the table, and after a couple of groundouts moved her around to third, classmate Minnis chopped an infield single to the left side to give the Bears the early 1-0 advantage.
 
Mason started the MSU excitement in the fifth, blasting a one-out triple to the fence in left center. Minnis continued her hot hand moments later, turning on a fastball and pulling it to the wall in right for her first career triple, scoring Mason.
 
In the seventh, Weber got things started with a leadoff double over the left fielder's head. Mason followed suit with a one-out single and later stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Minnis then squared up a line drive that UMKC third baseman Madason Shaw speared for the second out. But just when it looked like the 'Roos would take a one-run game into the bottom of the seventh, a Darby Joerling grounder to the right side resulted in a Sydney Garcia throwing error that brought Weber and Mason around to score to make it a 4-1 game.
 
Griesbauer's gritty performance saw her pitch out of trouble every time the 'Roos threatened. UMKC got leadoff hits in four of the first six innings, including a double by Garcia in the sixth. The Bears turned a double play behind Griesbauer in the first, rolled three straight ground balls in the third and got two strikeouts from the right-hander in the fifth.
 
UMKC got on the board in the sixth after Garcia's double. Missouri State retired the next two hitters before a liner up the middle by Bre Hunter made it a 2-1 game at the time. However, Griesbauer set down the home club in order in the seventh to pick up her third complete game of the year.
 
Mason and Minnis finished with two hits apiece to lead Missouri State, which won its 10^th in a row in the series against UMKC.
 
The 'Roos were led by Garcia's two hits with starter Mia Hoveland (10-8) taking the loss after pitching 3.0 innings and striking out one.
 
Missouri State returns to Killian Stadium and MVC play this Saturday and Sunday for a three-game set against first-place Drake. The Bears and Bulldogs square off for a Noon doubleheader on Saturday before an 11 a.m. game Sunday in the home finale.