RUSTON, La. – Missouri State softball (14-16, 3-7 CUSA) dropped its series opener 9-5 at Louisiana Tech (18-15, 4-6 CUSA) on Friday night.
 
A seven-run bottom of the first inning for Louisiana Tech was the difference in this one. After the Bears jumped on the Bulldogs and took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a Kayla Ulrich RBI single, LA Tech immediately answered with a crooked number in the home half of the first. Four hits and three free passes led to seven runs for the Bulldogs and left Mo State with some work to do.
 
LA Tech added a run in the bottom of the third to stretch the lead to 8-1, but then the Bears started to put some pressure on and cut into the deficit. In the top of the fifth inning, Emily Chadwick and Brynn Romine worked walks to put two Bears on with no outs. Then, Halle Studer doubled down the left field line to score two runs for Mo State and chase Louisiana Tech's starting pitcher. Riley Baber and Lauren Rowland both put great swings on pitches that led to loud outs near the wall, but the inning ended with the score sitting at 8-3.
 
After Mo State stranded a couple of runners in the top of the sixth, Louisiana Tech added an insurance run in the bottom half of the sixth to make it a 9-3 ballgame headed to the seventh inning.
 
Missouri State kept battling to the last out as Riley Baber got things started by reaching on an error to lead off the seventh. Following a couple of quick outs, Alexis Perales hit her third home run of the season with a two-run shot over the wall in left center to pull the Bears within four, 9-5. Unfortunately, a ground out ended the game as the comeback attempt came up short in Ruston.
 
Perales and Studer led the way with two RBI apiece on the night, while Baber posted a multiple-hit game, going 2-for-4 at the plate. The Bears offense struck out just three times on the night, but left eight runners on base in the matchup.
 
Missouri State will try to even the series against Louisiana Tech tomorrow (March 28). First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. and the game will stream on ESPN+.