BEAUMONT, Texas – Missouri State softball (1-6) split its first two games of the I-10 Border Classic co-hosted by Lamar and McNeese State. The Bears earned their first victory of the season with a 6-0 win over Tulsa, before falling in walk-off fashion to Lamar, 3-2, in the nightcap.
 
The victory over Tulsa also marked the first career win for head coach Kasey Griffith.
 
 
Game 1 – Missouri State 6, Tulsa 0
Missouri State softball picked up its first win of the season by defeating Tulsa, 6-0, to open its stay at the I-10 Border Classic.
 
The Bears got to work on offense early, posting a five-run second inning against the Golden Hurricane. Alexis Perales and Halle Studer knocked back-to-back singles to begin the second, before Emily Gerardy advanced them with a sacrifice bunt. Tulsa was then unsuccessful on a fielder's choice as the Bears scored their first run of the day. Taylor Akers came to the plate and knocked an RBI single, followed by a Kayla Ulrich two-RBI double to left center to put the Bears up 4-0.
 
Missouri State wasn't finished as McKenzie Vaughan drew a walk, before a Brynn Romine single loaded the bases. That's when Aubrey Johansen delivered an RBI single to center field to cap the scoring for MoState in the second frame.
 
Tulsa got a runner to second base in the top of the third, but that would be all for the Golden Hurricane after the big inning for the Bears. MoState added an insurance run in the bottom half of the third to extend its lead to 6-0. Kenzie Derryberry singled with one out in the third and advanced to second base on an Akers sacrifice bunt. With a runner in scoring position for the Bears, Tulsa's third baseman committed an error, allowing Derryberry to score.
 
The Golden Hurricane had its best scoring opportunity of the game in the top of the fifth with bases loaded and one out. However, Vaughan and the MoState defense turned a double play to end the inning and shut down the Tulsa threat.
 
With Missouri State holding a 6-0 lead, Johansen came on in relief of Vaughan in the circle in the top of the seventh. The right-handed freshman retired the side in order to help the Bears collect their first win of the season.
 
Vaughan pitched a gem to earn her first victory of the year, scattering five hits over 6.0 scoreless innings. Romine was MoState's offensive leader with a 3-for-3 outing against the Golden Hurricane, while Ulrich led the way with two RBI.
 
 
Game 2 – Lamar 3, Missouri State 2
In game two, it seemed as though the Bears were poised for their second victory of the day, but Lamar rallied to walk the game off in the seventh inning.
 
Missouri State once again struck first, this time via a leadoff home run from Ulrich in the top of the third inning to give the Bears a 1-0 lead. Back-to-back walks, a fielder's choice and a single loaded the bases for the Bears with one out on the board to bring Gerardy to the plate. The sophomore infielder promptly sent a single to center field to drive in MoState's second run of the inning.
 
Makenzi Swick and Co. held the Cardinals at bay until the fourth inning when Lamar hit a solo homer to cut the MoState lead in half at 2-1.
 
After back-to-back 1-2-3 innings in the fifth and sixth, Missouri State's offense threated in the top of the seventh. A leadoff single from Sidney McLaughlin and an Ulrich walk gave MoState two baserunners with no outs. Unfortunately for the Bears as they could have used the insurance runs, a pop up and consecutive ground outs ended the inning and the threat.
 
Lamar found a way to rally in the seventh as a leadoff single, a one-out double and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Cardinals. A ground out to shortstop tied the game at 2-2, before Lamar walked it off with a single to center field, handing MoState a 3-2 loss to end the day.
 
Ella Wright and Gerardy tallied two hits apiece in the nightcap, while Romine and Vaughan each drew two walks. Swick led the way in the circle, tossing 6.1 innings in which she allowed just one earned run and struck out three.
 
UP NEXT: Missouri State is back in action tomorrow on day two of the I-10 Border Classic at tournament co-host McNeese State. Due to threat of inclement weather, Saturday's games have been pushed forward; therefore, the Bears will face McNeese at 10:00 a.m. and Nicholls at 12:30 p.m.