ATHENS, Ga. – Missouri State softball earned its first win of the season with a day two split in the Red and Black Showcase. The Bears opened the day with a 3-0 loss to Belmont, before bouncing back with a 10-6 win over Fordham.
 
Game 1
Belmont 3, Missouri State 0
The Bears kicked off day two at the Red and Black Showcase with a rematch against Belmont. The Bruins broke through on the scoreboard first in the third inning with a two-RBI triple.
 
MoState tried to take advantage of a Belmont error in the top of the fourth, eventually getting runners on first and second base, but a fielder's choice ended the threat. With the score still sitting at 2-0, the Bears worked two walks with two outs, but again couldn't come up with the timely hit as the inning ended on another fielder's choice.
 
Belmont tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the MoState defense limited the damage as they left the bases full of Bruins to remain within striking distance. Unfortunately, the Bears were unable to strike in the final two innings, falling 3-0 to start the day.
 
Riley Baber tallied MoState's only hit in the game, while Lauren Rowland and Emily Evans drew walks. Despite taking the loss in the circle, Emily Koranda tossed a good game. The freshman right-hander allowed three earned runs in 6.0 innings of work, walked three and struck out eight Bruins.
 
 
Game 2
Missouri State 10, Fordham 6
Missouri State earned its first win of the season with a 10-6 victory over Fordham. The Rams jumped out in front early with a three-run first inning.
 
Despite the early deficit, the Bears continued to fight and the offense burst through in the bottom of the third inning with six runs on six hits. With one out on the board, Halle Studer and Baber knocked back-to-back doubles before Rowland drew a walk to load the bases. The next three MoState batters drove in runs with Aubrey Johansen hitting an RBI single, Brynn Romine delivering a two-RBI double to center field and Emily Chadwick sending a two-RBI single up the middle to flip the momentum and give the Bears a 5-3 lead. Following an Emily Gerardy walk, transfer Mya January delivered an RBI double, but the play turned into two outs on the basepaths to make it a 6-3 game after three innings.
 
After a three-up, three-down inning for Fordham in the fourth, Missouri State tacked on an additional run in the bottom of the fourth courtesy of two walks, a wild pitch and a Rams error.
 
Leading by three runs with five-and-a-half innings in the books, the Bears added additional insurance in the sixth. An Alexis Perales single and Kayla Ulrich double set the stage for Rowland, who launched a three-run homer to left field, extending the lead to 10-4.
 
Fordham scored two runs in the top of the seventh, but Brylee Brewster and the MoState defense held strong to secure the Bears' first win of the season by a score of 10-6.

Johansen, Perales and Romine led the way offensively with two hits apiece, while Rowland drove in a team-high four runs. MoState tallied 12 hits, seven of which went for extra bases, and drew five free passes on the evening. In the circle, Brewster earned her first career win after throwing 6.2 innings. The freshman southpaw allowed three earned runs on three hits, while fanning seven Rams.
 
 
Up Next
Missouri State will close out its stay at the Red and Black Showcase on Sunday morning (Feb. 8) in a rematch against Fordham. First pitch is set for 9:30 a.m. CT.