Game 1 Box (PDF) | Game 2 Box (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF)
 
SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball improved to 15-14 overall (8-3 MVC) as they clinched the series with a pair of wins against Missouri Valley Conference foe Indiana State (18-16, 5-6 MVC) on Saturday.
 
Alex Boze went 5-for-5 across the afternoon, including two doubles and her ninth home run of the season. Boze also had six RBI on the day, as she improved her season batting average to .371 with her perfect day at the plate.
 
In the circle, Steffany Dickerson earned her 10^th win of the season and the 50^th of her career with a complete game shutout of Indiana State in game one of the doubleheader. Dickerson also recorded her second save of the season in game two, as she threw 1.1 relief innings, giving up no hits and striking out two. Madison Hunsaker recorded the victory in the second game, throwing 5.0 innings while giving up just one earned run and striking out five Sycamores.
 
Game 1
Missouri State 4, Indiana State 0
 
In the opener, the Bears scored all the runs they would need in the first inning, as they scored four runs and eventually defeated the Sycamores 4-0.
 
Daphne Plummer started the game off with a single up the middle and stole second, before Steffany Dickerson helped her own cause with a single to right field, scoring Plummer for an RBI.
 
With Dickerson on third following an error on the Indiana State right fielder, Olivia Krehbiel walked and stole second, setting up McKenzie Vaughan and Alex Boze with RBI opportunities. Vaughan singled to bring home a run before being thrown out trying to advance to second after the throw home.
 
Boze then stepped up to the plate and launched her ninth homer of the season, a two-run shot, to give MSU a 4-0 advantage after an inning.
 
From there, Indiana State had their best scoring opportunity in the fourth inning. With a runner on, the Sycamores hit a double but the relay of Ellie McCoy to Plummer to Boze got the runner heading home to keep Indiana State off the board.
 
Dickerson was strong in the circle, allowing just seven hits and striking out seven. Boze led the way offensively in game one, going 3-for-3 with two RBI.
 
Game 2
Missouri State 9, Indiana State 5
 
In game two, the Bears held a comfortable lead for most of the game, until Indiana State had a final push in them to make it a two-run game late. However, MSU was able to work out of jam and respond offensively to secure the 9-5 victory and clinch the series.
 
Much like game one, the Bears jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first via three singles and a Boze double to right center field. Dickerson recorded an RBI-single in the first, while Boze's double scored two to give MSU a 3-0 lead after an inning.
 
Missouri State struck again in the third with another three-run inning to take a 6-0 lead after three in Springfield. The Bears took advantage of a single, an error and four free passes in the inning to extend their lead. Vaughan and Boze each earned an RBI in the third after drawing bases loaded walks.
 
Following a scoreless fourth inning, the Sycamores put their first run of the day on the board in the fifth inning courtesy of a couple of singles and a sacrifice bunt. The Bears responded quickly, though, as Olivia Krehbiel led off the home half of the fifth with a single and stole second. Boze then singled through the left side, scoring Krehbiel.
 
Indiana State made things interesting in sixth, scoring three runs off of two home runs with no outs on the board. The Sycamores' fourth and final run of the inning came following two errors by the Bear defense, making it a 7-5 game headed to the bottom of the sixth.
 
MSU showed resiliency, answering with two runs off of a Hunsaker home run, a Dickerson single and a McKayla Carney double to right center to stretch the lead back out to 9-5. Dickerson came back on to finish things off in relief in the seventh, forcing the Sycamores to go three-up, three-down to end the game.
 
Hunsaker earned her fifth win of the season in the circle as she allowed one run while striking out five. Dickerson earned her second save of the season. Offensively, four Bears turned in multiple-hit games, while Boze drove in four runs for a total of six RBI in the twin bill.
 
Missouri State will be back in action tomorrow as they go for the series sweep of the Sycamores. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.