MOBILE, Ala. – Missouri State (2-6) split the day at the Mardi Gras Classic hosted by South Alabama. The Bears defeated Mississippi Valley State, 8-2, to begin the day before falling to South Alabama, 10-0, in five innings in the final game of the day.
 
In the circle for the Bears, Mackenzie Chacon was the highlight, as she earned her first victory of the season with a complete-game effort against MVSU (0-6). Chacon allowed one earned run, three hits and struck out a career-high five batters.
 
Offensively, the Bears were led by sophomore Kenzie Derryberry in game one, as she went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, RBI and run scored. MSU totaled eight runs on 10 hits against Mississippi Valley, but did not muster a hit against the Jaguars (3-4) in game two.
 
 
Game 1 – Missouri State 8, Mississippi Valley State 2
Missouri State picked up where it left off following yesterday's game two win against South Alabama, as the Bears tallied 10 hits against the Devilettes in an 8-2 victory.
 
MSU struck first as freshman Abby Ford worked a leadoff walk in the first, then stole second and third base before scoring on a throwing error by the MVSU catcher. A few batters later with runners on first and third, Annie Mueller stole second base which opened the door for pinch-runner Ellie McCoy to swipe home and give the Bears an early 2-0 lead.
 
Following a quiet second frame, the Bears added a single run in the third as McKayla Carney reached on an error, then advanced to third via a passed ball and an Olivia Krehbiel single to center field. From there, Alex Boze drove her home with a sacrifice fly to left field.
 
Mississippi Valley State pushed a run across in the top half of the fourth, but MSU quickly answered in the home half of the frame. After Derryberry singled and stole both second and third base, Ford singled to the shortstop to collect an RBI and put MSU back in front by three runs. Ford wasn't done yet though, as she stole second and advanced to third on an error before Carney walked and the Bears once again mastered a steal of second base and home plate to lead 5-1 after four innings.
 
Missouri State used a leadoff double in the fifth from Tess Weakly to spark another multi-run inning. The Bears used two doubles, a couple of singles, an MVSU error and a sacrifice fly to add three more runs to the board and take an 8-1 lead over the Devilettes.
 
MVSU tacked on a second run in the top of the seventh, but Missouri State cruised to an 8-2 victory behind the arm of Chacon (1-1).
 
The sophomore lefty tossed a career-high seven innings, as she allowed one earned run, walked one and sat down a career-high five hitters via strikeout. The victory marked her first of the season in her fourth appearance in the circle.
 
Six different Bears collected hits as Ford, Chacon and Derryberry logged multiple-hit games, which were all career-high marks for the trio. The Bears also racked up 14 stolen bases against MVSU, as Ford set a Missouri State single-game record with four stolen bases.
 
 
Game 2 – South Alabama 10, Missouri State 0 (5 innings)
Missouri State could not continue the momentum in the second game as South Alabama's Olivia Lackie (2-2) pitched a no-hitter, while allowing a walk and striking out 10 Bears.
 
Kelsie Lewis was Missouri State's lone baserunner of the game with a walk, as the Jaguars ultimately tallied 10 runs on eight hits, in addition to three MSU errors.
 
The Bears close out the Mardi Gras Classic tomorrow (Feb. 19) with a rematch against Mississippi Valley State. First pitch is set for 9 a.m. CT in Mobile.