NORMAL, Ill. – Missouri State softball (14-30, 12-9 MVC) split a Friday afternoon doubleheader at Illinois State (18-26, 11-8 MVC). The Bears fell 6-2 in the first game of the day, before bouncing back to win the series finale 8-2.
 
Game 1: Illinois State 6, Missouri State 2
Illinois State was able to capture a series win with a 6-2 victory over Missouri State in the first game of the day. The Redbirds struck first with a three-run second inning that proved to be all Illinois State would need. Following a double and a hit by pitch to put two runners on, Illinois State knocked a two-out, three-run homer to take the lead.
 
The Bears managed to knock a leadoff double in the top of the fourth inning, but were then retired in order to end the scoring threat. Illinois State took advantage and added two runs in the bottom of the fourth, once again burning the Bears with two outs. With a runner on via a walk, the Redbirds knocked back-to-back two out singles and with the help of a MoState error, they extended the lead to 5-0.
 
Missouri State finally broke through with a single run in the fifth and sixth innings. MoState's first run of the day came courtesy of a Kenzie Derryberry home run to lead off the fifth, before Alexis Perales knocked an RBI double down the left field line in the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-2.
 
That's as close as the Bears would get as Illinois State tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and MoState couldn't rally in the seventh as it fell 6-2.
 
Perales led the way in game one with a couple of hits and an RBI. MoState left five runners on base during the game and struck out six times.
 
Game 2: Missouri State 8, Illinois State 2
The second game on the day saw Missouri State bounce back and defeat Illinois State, 8-2.
 
Game two saw a scoreless contest through the first four innings, though both teams had opportunities to score. One of the biggest momentum shifts of the game came in the bottom of the third as Illinois State worked to load the bases via two singles and a walk with no outs. The MoState defense was up to the task as the Bears got two outs on the force play at home and then forced a ground out to end the inning with no damage done.
 
Sofia King broke through with a huge hit for the Bears, sending a laser off the wall in right center for a leadoff triple in the fifth inning. MoState then knocked three consecutive singles to get on the board and go up 1-0. Following a fielder's choice to get an out at home, Halle Studer roped a two-RBI single down the left field line to make it 3-0 in favor of the Bears.
 
The MoState offense kept rolling through the remainder of the game, adding a fourth run in the sixth inning. Perales hit a leadoff single, followed by a King single and a Derryberry walk to load the bases once again. After another fielder's choice to get the runner at home, Taylor Akers worked a bases-loaded walk to collect an RBI and extend the lead.
 
Illinois State broke up the shutout bid in the home half of the sixth, using three hits and an error in the inning to post two runs.
 
MoState responded immediately and put the game on ice with a four spot in the top of the seventh. McKenzie Vaughan led off the inning with a towering home run to left field, and then the Bears rallied later in the inning with two outs on the board. Three straight singles from Derryberry, Lauren Rowland and Elizabeth Bobbitt pushed across two more runs, but the Bears weren't done yet with runners on the corners. The fourth and final run of the frame came as Akers, who re-entered to run at first base, successfully distracted the Redbird defense as Rowland stole home to make it an 8-2 ballgame.
 
The Missouri State defense closed the game out to salvage the final game of the series with an 8-2 victory and cap a seven-game road stint for the Bears.
 
Derryberry, King and Vaughan recorded multiple hits in the game, while freshmen Studer and Rowland drove in two runs each to lead the squad. Every Bear that logged an at-bat in the game recorded a hit. In the circle, Mackenzie Chacon earned the win after tossing 5.0 innings and allowing just two earned runs, while Makenzi Swick recorded her second save of the season with 2.0 scoreless innings in relief.
 
Missouri State returns home next week to host Tulsa on Tuesday, April 22 at 5:00 p.m., before welcoming Belmont to Springfield from April 25-27.