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SPRINGFIELD – Visiting Southern Illinois plated four unearned runs in the top of the fifth to open things up and overcome an early lead by Missouri State in a 7-1 Salukis victory here Wednesday.
 
The Bears used fire-starter Abby Ford to plate an early run in the bottom of the first as the speedster reached on an infield hit, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She then scored on a sac fly by Annie Mueller to give the Bears (3-15, 0-2 MVC) an early 1-0 advantage.
 
MSU starter Mackenzie Chacon cruised through the Salukis lineup the first time through, allowing just one hit and one walk through the first three innings. But SIU (17-4, 2-0) tied things up in the top of the fourth on a two-out hit from Jenna Christenson.
 
Christenson was one of three SIU players with multiple hits on the afternoon, joining Rylie Hamilton (3) and Erin Lee (2).
 
The 1-1 deadlock held until the fifth when the visitors captured the lead on a one-out double by Elizabeth Warwick then tacked on an insurance tally with a bases-loaded hit batsman in the form of Anna Carder. Christenson then plated two more on a two-out single to center to make it a 5-1 game.
 
The Bears loaded the bases in the home half of the fifth and sixth innings but came up empty both times. In the fifth, Mueller popped up with the bases loaded to end the MSU threat that began with Emily Shipman's first collegiate hit. In the sixth, a Saluki error and two-out walk to Emily Gerardy loaded the bases for Chloe Merced who was retired on a grounder back to SIU reliever Maddie Groff.
 
SIU added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh off Bears' reliever Makenzi Swick who pitched 2.1 innings in relief, including a door-slamming final out upon her arrival in the fifth inning.
 
Chacon (3-3) took the loss for the Bears, going 4.0 innings with 2 strikeouts and 3 hits allowed without an earned run.
 
The Bears scattered four hits on the day, all singles.
 
Missouri State continues its six-game home stand Friday through Sunday when the Bears host Illinois State at Killian Stadium in a three-game MVC series. Friday's series opener starts at 5 p.m. with free admission.