SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State pounded a season-high 13 hits and got a sixth-inning home run from Annie Mueller to seal the deal in a 7-4 win over visiting Illinois State here Sunday. 

With the win, the Bears earned a series victory as well, taking two out of three from the rival Redbirds and wrap the first week of Missouri Valley Conference play.

The Bears (5-16, 2-3 MVC) got RBI singles in the second and third innings from Alexis Perales and Kayla Ulrich, respectively, to build a 2-0 advantage. 

Missouri State then stretched its lead to 6-0 with an impressive fourth-inning rally. An RBI single by Kelsie Lewis started the hit parade, followed by a two-run single to right by Olivia Krehbiel. Ulrich then tacked on another Bears run with an RBI hit to left to put the exclamation point on a five-hit frame.

MSU starter Mackenzie Chacon cruised through four innings allowing just three singles, but ran into trouble in the fifth as Redbirds' leadoff hitter Delaney Bryant blasted a three-run homer to left for her second round-tripper of the season. Gracie Johnston then came on in relief and allowed just one hit the rest of the way, a solo homer by Hanna Hicks in the sixth, to earn her fourth save.

Mueller's solo blast in the bottom of the sixth pushed Missouri State's lead back to three with her fourth dinger of the season, and Johnston pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to clinch the series for the Bears.

Ulrich finished 3-for-4 to lead MSU's offensive attack, while Krehbiel, Abby Ford and Perales each tacked on two hits. 

Chacon (5-3) picked up the win, striking out three and walking two in 4.1 innings of work.

The Bears will step out of conference play on Tuesday when they host Central Arkansas at 4 p.m. at Killian Stadium. Admission is free for the beach shirt giveaway game.