Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Stats
 
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Missouri State got great pitching and solid defense here Friday, but couldn't capitalize on its precious few offensive chances, falling to Mississippi State and No. 7-ranked Minnesota on the opening day of the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic.
 
Mississippi State defeated the Bears 5-0 in game one, while Minnesota escaped with a 1-0 win in the second game.
 
Daphne Plummer had two hits on the day for Missouri State, both first-inning leadoff singles, while right-hander Steffany Dickerson surrendered just one run in 7.2 combined innings.
 
"I was very proud of our pitchers today," said head coach Holly Hesse. "Our pitching held up well 13 of 14 innings against very good hitting lineups. All three pitchers contributed quality innings with Steff providing eight quality innings.
 
"Our hitters had good pitch selection, and our swings looked good. The runs will come. This is a very good tournament with excellent competition. Hopefully we can get the bats going tomorrow and see what happens against two more great opponents."
 
The Bears will take on North Carolina State on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. (Central) before squaring off with Notre Dame at 2 p.m.
 
 
Game 1
Mississippi State 5, Bears 0
 
A four-run third inning propelled Mississippi State to a 5-0 win over the Bears in the season opener.
 
Mississippi State got on the board in the second with a solo homer by Chloe Malau'ulu off Bears' starter Erin Griesbauer. The Bulldogs then started their four-run rally in the third with a two-run double from Fe Leilua. Carter Spexarth then plated her with an infield hit before a Montana Davidson sac fly scored the fourth run of the frame to make it a 5-0 game.
 
Steffany Dickerson and Madison Hunsaker combined to pitch 4.2 scoreless innings in relief for Missouri State and hold their SEC foes in check the rest of the game. Dickerson struck out three in 2.2 innings, while Hunsaker kept the Bulldogs off balance for her 2.0 innings of work.
 
Missouri State scattered three hits, including a first-inning leadoff single by Daphne Plummer. Hunsaker reached on a walk in the second, while Kelly Metter and Olivia Krehbiel both singled as part of a fifth-inning Bears outburst but were stranded.
 
Candance Denis, Leilua and Spexarth each had two hits to lead the Bulldogs. Starter Annie Willis, a transfer from Troy, got the win with 5.0 innings, three hits, a walk and seven strikeouts.
 
 
Game 2
Minnesota 1, Bears 0
 
Dickerson was outstanding in the nightcap, striking out eight and allowing just four hits in 5.0 innings of work with just a pair of walks.
 
The only blemish against the Bears' junior starter was an RBI single by MaKenna Partain who drove home Olivia Peterson with one out in the top of the third. Peterson led the inning off with a hit and was moved into scoring position on a sacrifice by Ali Lindner.
 
The Bears scattered three hits of their own and had their best scoring opportunity in the sixth after a leadoff single by Rachel Weber. The next batter up, Plummer, then smashed a line drive that Minnesota shortstop Carlie Brandt speared to take a hit away. Pinch runner Bailey Greenlee moved up to second moments later on a wild pitch to put the tying run in scoring position with two outs.
 
But Minnesota reliever Amber Fiser got out of the jam, inducing ground balls from Payton Minnis and Hunsaker to end the Missouri State rally.
 
Hunsaker retired all six batters she faced in the sixth and seventh, including a pair of strikeouts, to keep MSU's hopes alive in the final inning. But Fiser was up to the task, working around a two-out walk to Krehbiel in the seventh before fanning Dickerson to end it.
 
Autumn Pease (1-0) earned the win for the Golden Gophers, allowing two hits and striking out five in 5.0 innings, while Fiser picked up the save in Minnesota's season opener.
 
Both teams stranded four runners.