OXFORD, Miss. – Missouri State softball improved to 8-10 on the season with a 3-2 victory against Mount St. Mary's (2-7) in the final game of the Ole Miss Classic for the Bears.
 
Sophomore McKenzie Vaughan got it done both in the circle and at the plate for the Bears. In the circle, Vaughan tossed a complete game as she allowed no earned runs and five hits on the afternoon, while striking out five Mountaineers to earn her first victory on the season. Offensively, Vaughan logged two of MSU's four hits, including a solo homer in the top of the seventh that proved to be the game-winner for the Bears.
 
Missouri State hopped on the board first in the top of the second inning. Vaughan was hit by a pitch with one out in the inning to give MSU a baserunner, before advancing to third a batter via a Mount St. Mary's error in the outfield. Alex Boze then drove Vaughan in with an RBI-ground out to give MSU the early lead.
 
The Bears kept the momentum going after retiring the side in order in the bottom of the second and adding another run in the third. Kenzie Derryberry knocked a one-out single through the right side and later stole second to put a runner in scoring position for the Bears with two outs. Tess Weakly delivered a two-out, RBI-double to extend MSU's lead to 2-0 with three innings in the books.
 
MSU allowed just one Mountaineer baserunner in the third through fifth innings, before Mount St. Mary's put together its first threat of the day in the sixth. With two outs in the sixth inning, the Mountaineers hit back-to-back singles, but the Bears defense got out of it by forcing a pop up to the shortstop to hold on to their two-run lead heading to the final inning.
 
Vaughan led off the top of the seventh by launching a solo home run to left field, giving MSU a much-needed insurance run as Mount St. Mary's would attempt to mount a comeback in the final half inning.
 
The Mountaineers knocked back-to-back singles to lead off the home half of the seventh inning, and scored their first run on an MSU fielding error to make it a 3-1 ballgame. Following a strikeout, Mount St. Mary's plated another run with an RBI-ground out to third base to make it a one-run game with two outs. Vaughan dug deep in the circle and struck out the next Mountaineer looking to secure the 3-2 victory in the tournament final for the Bears.
 
Missouri State will be back in action next week at the Shocker Classic hosted by Wichita State. The Bears will begin the tournament on Saturday, March 11 with matchups against Nebraska at 12 p.m. and Wichita State at 5 p.m. CT.