EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Missouri State softball (16-29, 12-12 MVC) earned its second consecutive series win with a 10-4 rubber match victory over Evansville (15-32, 10-14 MVC) here Sunday afternoon. 
 
The Bears scored early and often in the series finale against the Aces, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Missouri State began the game with four straight hits, scoring the first run of the day on a Kayla Ulrich RBI single. Later in the inning with bases loaded, Emily Chadwick delivered an RBI single to left field, then in the next at-bat, Kelsie Lewis collected an RBI on a fielder's choice to make it 3-0 Missouri State after one. 
 
MSU kept the momentum going in the second as Ellie McCoy led off the inning with a hit by pitch and stole second base. Chloe Merced and Ulrich then knocked back-to-back RBI doubles to extend the lead to five runs. With a runner on second, Annie Mueller extended her home run streak to six games, launching a two-run homer to break MSU's single-season RBI record with Nos. 47 and 48 on the year.
 
Missouri State kept its foot on the gas as the game entered the third inning, plating two runs on Olivia Krehbiel's second double of the weekend and a Merced RBI single to left field to extend the lead to 9-0 in favor of the Bears. 
 
Evansville broke though for its first runs on the game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third. Missouri State promptly scored a run in the top of the fourth, using the sequence of a Kenzie Derryberry leadoff single, back-to-back walks from Emily Shipman and Emily Gerardy, before Alexis Perales tallied an RBI on a fielder's choice. 
 
As was the theme the last two days, Evansville wasn't going away quietly. With Aces on second and third and two outs, a Missouri State error allowed two runs to come across, cutting MSU's lead to 10-4 after four innings. 
 
From there, though, both teams posted zeroes on the scoreboard over the final three innings as the Bears cruised to a 10-4 win and clinched the series. 
 
Offensively, Missouri State had five Bears log multiple hit games, including Merced, Mueller and Ulrich who each had three hits at the plate. The trio also drove in two runs each as MSU combined for 15 hits and four free passes on the afternoon. 
 
In the circle, Makenzi Swick drew the start and earned the victory, tossing 5.0 innings. Swick allowed four runs, only two of which were earned. Shelby Houchlei and Gracie Johnston pitched an inning each in relief, not surrendering a hit over the final two frames.
 
Missouri State will close out the regular season next weekend at home as the Bears host Indiana State (May 3-5).