SPRINGFIELD - Missouri State softball (12-12, 1-3 Conference USA) opened its first home CUSA series with an 8-0 run-rule victory over Kennesaw State on Friday evening at Killian Stadium.

Freshman Emily Koranda delivered a dominant performance in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just five hits and striking out seven across five innings.

Koranda worked out of early trouble in the second inning when Kennesaw State placed two runners on with no outs. The freshman stayed composed and retired the next three batters in order to strand both runners and keep the game scoreless.

Missouri State grabbed the early lead in the bottom of the first inning as Brynn Romine reached base and later came around to score on a Riley Baber sac fly to give the Bears a 1-0 advantage.

The Owls threatened again in the third inning by putting two runners on base, but the Bears were able to escape another jam and maintain the lead.
Missouri State broke the game open in the fourth inning, pushing three runs across the plate on an Alexis Perales RBI double and Kayla Ulrich's two-run homer to extend its lead to 4-0.

The Bears kept the momentum rolling in the fifth inning, adding four more runs to bring the game into run-rule territory and secure the 8-0 victory. Halle Studer drove in a pair with a double and scored on a Lauren Rowland single before Perales added a sac fly for the necessary margin.

Romine led Missouri State with two hits and scored twice as the Bears finished with eight runs on seven hits.

Missouri State and Kennesaw State will continue the series Saturday with a doubleheader at Killian Stadium. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., with game two set for 6:00 p.m. Both games will stream on ESPN+.