TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Missouri State softball (11-27, 9-7 MVC) suffered a 6-2 setback in the series opener at Indiana State (13-25, 7-6 MVC) here Friday afternoon.
Indiana State jumped on top of the Bears in the first inning to set the tone for the afternoon. The Sycamores kicked the game off with a leadoff triple and would go on to utilize three hits and a MoState error in the inning to take a 3-0 lead after one.
After retiring the Bears in order in the second inning, Indiana State strung together a walk, a single, a fielder's choice and an RBI single to push across its fourth run of the game.
From there, the Missouri State defense started to settle in, but the MoState offense didn't get its first baserunner of the day until the fifth inning on a
Chloe Merced leadoff single. Merced would steal second base a couple of batters later, but two fly outs and a strikeout ended the inning for the Bears.
An error from the Bears to begin the bottom of the fifth aided the Sycamores in tacking on a fifth run off an RBI single through the left side two batters later. Indiana State added another insurance run in the sixth following a double down the right field line and an RBI infield single.
Missouri State was down to its final opportunity to extend the game in the top of the seventh inning. The Bears had their best at-bats of the day in the final frame with
Riley Baber knocking a one-out single down the left field line to get a little momentum for MoState. Down to the last out,
Halle Studer hit a single to center field before
Kenzie Derryberry sent a two-RBI triple to center field, making it a 6-2 ballgame. That's where the MoState spark would burn out as a called strikeout ended the game.
Mackenzie Chacon came in the game and tossed 5.0 innings in relief, allowing two earned runs and striking out two Sycamores. Derryberry led the way for MoState offensively with two RBI.
The Bears and Sycamores will face off in game two of the series tomorrow (April 12) in Terre Haute. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. CT.
#GoBears
