NORMAL, Ill. – Missouri State softball (19-16, 10-3 MVC) evened the series with a hard-fought 5-4 road victory at Illinois State (20-16, 10-2 MVC) here Saturday afternoon. 
 
Offensively, Kenzie Derryberry led the way for MSU with a 3-for-4 day at the plate including two RBI and a double. Tess Weakly and Alex Boze also logged multiple hits on the afternoon, as Olivia Krehbiel and Abby Ford each collected RBI and an extra-base hit. 
 
In the circle, the Bears utilized four pitchers on the day with freshman Makenzi Swick (2-0) earning the victory and Shelby Houchlei earning her first save of the season. Swick tossed two innings in relief, allowing just one earned run while striking out two Redbirds. 
 
Following the loss to the Redbirds yesterday, Missouri State found itself down 2-0 early after one inning following an Illinois State solo homer and RBI single. 
 
The Bears threatened in the top of the second inning with three walks to load the bases, but weren't able to break open the scoring. However, the drought didn't last long as the Bears put up a three-spot in the third inning.
 
Tess Weakly and McKenzie Vaughan led off the third with back-to-back singles, and two batters later Boze singled with one out on the board to load the bases. Derryberry delivered with a laser off the wall in left center field to tie the game at 2-2. In the next at-bat, Boze scored on a wild pitch to put the Bears in front, 3-2, after three. 
 
Illinois State drew a leadoff walk in the third inning, but after a fielder's choice, the Redbirds grounded into a double play to end the inning.
 
It continued to be a back-and-forth battle after MSU left the bases loaded in the fourth and Illinois State tied the game, 3-3, in the bottom of the inning with a couple of singles and a double. 
 
The dramatics were far from over as Missouri State responded immediately with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Derryberry led off the inning with a single through the left side. Following a fielder's choice and an overturned caught stealing due to obstruction, Ford and Krehbiel knocked back-to-back doubles to propel MSU back into the lead, 5-3. 
 
The Redbirds weren't going down without a fight as they hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the deficit in half and make it a one-run game with an inning to play. 
 
MSU managed a couple of baserunners in the seventh, but the game went to the final half inning with the Bears still holding onto a one-run lead. Kelsie Lewis made two incredible plays on defense to help secure the 5-4 road victory for the Bears to even the series at a game apiece and end Illinois State's 11-game win streak. 
 
The Bears and Redbirds will face off in the rubber match tomorrow (April 9) in Normal. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. CT.