Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF) | Highlights
 
SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball improved to 13-13 (6-2 MVC) on the season after completing the series sweep against Valparaiso (9-14, 1-5 MVC) with an 8-0 run-rule victory over the Beacons here Sunday afternoon.
 
Daphne Plummer and Alex Boze led the way for Missouri State offensively on the afternoon, with Plummer logging three hits, two RBI and a run scored and Boze tallying two hits and two RBI. In the circle, Steffany Dickerson earned her ninth win of the season after throwing five shutout innings while allowing just one hit and striking out two Beacons.
 
The Bears once again jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning.
 
Plummer knocked a leadoff double to get things started for the Bears, before immediately stealing third base and scoring on an error by the Valparaiso catcher on the stolen base attempt. The Bears then took advantage of two free passes, with Madison Hunsaker singling up the middle to give MSU the early 2-0 lead.
 
After both teams went scoreless through the second, third and fourth innings, Valparaiso broke up Dickerson's no-hit bid with a single in the top of the fifth inning. However, that is all Dickerson would allow in the inning.
 
Missouri State had their biggest inning of the afternoon in the home half of the fifth, scoring five runs on two hits and an error.
 
Following a leadoff walk and a Beacons error, Boze singled through the left side to score a run and extend the lead to 3-0. Two batters later, Dickerson walked to load the bases with Bears before freshman Kenzie Derryberry recorded an RBI with a fielder's choice.
 
After another walk to load the bases, Payton Minnis scored on a wild pitch and Plummer singled to right center field to drive in two runs to give MSU the 7-0 advantage.
 
The Beacons went three-up, three-down in the top of the sixth inning to put the Bears in run-rule territory heading to the home half of the sixth.
 
Two walks and two wild pitches gave Missouri State runners on first and third with no outs, before Boze drove in the walk-off run with a single to left field to give MSU its fifth consecutive victory and second series win in conference play.
 
Missouri State will be back in action next weekend at UNI. First pitch of the doubleheader on Saturday, April 2 is set for 12 p.m.