DES MOINES, Iowa – Missouri State softball (20-32) battled back to earn a 7-3 win over 12^th-seeded UIC (9-46) in the opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. 
 
UIC jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the top of the first inning. The Flames led the game off with a bunt single, followed by back-to-back doubles to take a 2-0 lead with no outs. A couple of batters later, an RBI ground out made it a 3-0 game. 
 
The Bears had a couple of chances early but couldn't quite get the timely hit to push a run across. Perhaps their best scoring opportunity came in the second inning with runners on first and third, but on a delayed steal, the ball was cut and the MoState runner was tagged out at home. 
 
Missouri State finally broke through in the fourth to get things rolling. Riley Baber led the inning off with a solo homer to left field to put the Bears on the board and jumpstart the offense. Alexis Perales followed that up with a double to left field, before Sofia King drove her in a couple of at-bats later with a double of her own to left center. MoState stranded two in the inning and a fielder's choice got the lead runner heading home, but the Bears pulled within a run. 
 
The turning point in this one came in the sixth inning when the Bears blew the game wide open. Lauren Rowland drew a walk to lead off the frame before King immediately laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her over to second base. Kenzie Derryberry then singled to left field to put runners on the corners still with one out. Iowa native Aubrey Johansen then entered the lineup as a pinch hitter and sent an RBI single to the left center gap to tie the game at 3-3. Following a Chloe Merced walk to load the bases, Halle Studer cleared them all with a three-RBI double to left center to propel the Bears to a 6-3 lead. Baber continued her great day at the plate with an RBI double to the opposite gap to extend the MoState lead to 7-3. 
 
Just three outs away from completing the comeback effort, the Bears took care of business in the top of the seventh inning to advance to the MVC Tournament quarterfinals. 
 
A few MoState freshman shined in the game as the group of Baber, Johansen, Rowland and Studer went a combined 6-for-11 (.545) at the plate and drove in six of the Bears' seven runs on the afternoon. Studer led the way with three RBI, while Baber was one of two Missouri State sluggers with three hits on the day, joining senior Derryberry.
 
McKenzie Vaughan (11-8) earned the victory in the circle after coming on in relief in the top of the fourth inning. She hurled 4.0 scoreless innings, including retiring the first eight batters she saw, while allowing just two hits to hold the Flames at bay while the Bears found their rhythm on offense. 
 
Missouri State will be back in action tomorrow (May 8) in the quarterfinals of the MVC Tournament. The No. 5 seed Bears will take on No. 4 seed Illinois State. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. and the entire tournament will stream on ESPN+.