SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball (11-26, 9-6 MVC) dropped a midweek matchup, 6-3, against Southern Illinois (21-15, 13-1 MVC) here Tuesday evening.
 
MoState's defense worked two quick outs to begin the game, but then the Salukis' bats offense found success. SIU utilized a single, a walk, an RBI single and an RBI double to take an early 2-0 lead.
 
It took a while for the Missouri State offense to find a rhythm, as the Bears had just four total baserunners through the first six innings. MoState had a couple of opportunities throughout the game to try and grab some momentum, but couldn't string anything together.
 
Missouri State held the Salukis at bay in the second and third innings to keep it a two-run ballgame, but then SIU scored one run in the fourth via a solo homer before adding a single run in the fifth courtesy of a sacrifice fly to lead 4-0 after five innings.
 
After the MoState half of the fifth ended on a double play, the Salukis tacked on two more runs in the sixth. Following an error, a single and a walk to begin the inning, the Bears got two force outs at home to put two outs on the board with bases still loaded. Missouri State wasn't able to escape the inning unscathed as SIU drew a bases-loaded walk and singled to the pitcher to extend the lead to 6-0.
 
Still trailing by six runs, the Bears came to the plate with one final opportunity to extend the game in the seventh inning, and they made things interesting. Alexis Perales knocked a single through the left side to lead off the inning before Chloe Merced reached on an SIU fielding error. Following a strikeout and a fielder's choice, MoState was down to its final out with runners on the corners. Halle Studer then came up big for the Bears, launching a triple to left field which scored two runs. Emily Gerardy then drove in a third run with an RBI single to right field to cut the Missouri State deficit in half. Unfortunately, the two-out rally came to an end with after a called strikeout as the Bears fell 6-3.
 
Studer led the MoState offense with a 2-for-3 outing in addition to her two RBI. Gerardy also drove in a run as five Bears collected hits on the night. Missouri State struck out seven times and left four runners stranded, while SIU struck out just once and left eight runners on base.
 
Missouri State will hit the road this weekend for a three-game conference series at Indiana State. First pitch against the Sycamores in the series opener on Friday, April 11 is set for 2:00 p.m. CT.