FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Missouri State softball (1-11) dropped a couple of games to open its weekend at the Woo Pig Classic hosted by Arkansas. The Bears lost 8-0 in six innings against Iowa to begin the day, before falling in walk-off fashion, 4-3, to Illinois in nine innings in game two.
 
Game 1 – Iowa 8, Missouri State 0 (6 Innings)
In its opening game of the Woo Pig Classic, Missouri State was locked in a battle for five innings. Iowa jumped out in front early with a two-run homer in the first, but MoState settled in and posted four consecutive scoreless innings.
 
The Bears threatened a few times in the ballgame, beginning in the third inning. In the third, Missouri State got a runner to third with two outs, but a lineout ended the threat. In the fifth frame, the Bears tried to rally with two outs, drawing back-to-back walks before a ground out closed the inning. MoState had one final opportunity in the sixth inning, still trailing 2-0, as they knocked a two-out double and drew a walk to put two runners on base. Unfortunately, the trend for the game remained the same as the Bears fouled out to left field.
 
From there, Iowa caught fire and was able to end the game early in six innings after posting six runs. The Hawkeyes knocked two doubles and took advantage of three walks and an error in the frame to secure a run-rule victory, 8-0.
 
Riley Baber and Chloe Merced accounted for MoState's two hits in the game, both doubles. The Bears drew two walks and stranded five runners on base.
 
 
Game 2 – Illinois 4, Missouri State 3 (9 Innings)
Missouri State came up just short in extra innings against Illinois in the second game of the afternoon in Fayetteville.
 
After two scoreless innings that saw just one baserunner between the two teams to begin the game, Missouri State struck first in the third inning. After two outs to begin the third, the Bears rallied as Emily Gerardy sent a double down the left field and Brynn Romine knocked a single through the left side to get things rolling. The aforementioned Bears then pulled off the double steal to put Missouri State up 1-0.
 
MoState carried some momentum into the fourth as they had another good look at a scoring opportunity, getting runners to second and third base with two outs. The Bears were unable to add to the lead as a ground out to third base ended the inning.
 
Illinois finally broke through on the scoreboard with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the lead. The Fighting Illini used three hits and an error to push its runs across, and with just one out on the board, the Bears turned an important double play to minimize the damage.
 
The double play swung the momentum back in favor of the Bears as MoState answered immediately in the top of the sixth. Baber singled to lead off the inning, followed by a McKenzie Vaughan double down the left field line to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Halle Studer strolled to the plate and launched a two-RBI double to center field to tie the game at 3-3.
 
Missouri State then posted consecutive 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh to send the game to extras.
 
After a scoreless eighth, the Bears put two runners on in the ninth via two walks, but a fielder's choice ended the inning. Illinois then ended the game with a solo home run to lead off the ninth, defeating MoState 4-3.
 
Studer led the way for MoState with two hits and two RBI, while Alexis Perales and Kayla Ulrich drew two walks each. In the circle, Vaughan tossed a competitive 8.0 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and scattering six hits.
 
UP NEXT: Missouri State will be back in action with the same schedule tomorrow (March 1) on day two of the Woo Pig Classic. The Bears will take on Iowa at 10:00 a.m., before a 12:30 p.m. contest against Illinois.