RUSTON, La. – Missouri State softball (15-17, 4-8 CUSA) bounced back with a 3-0 win over Louisiana Tech (19-16, 5-7 CUSA) in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
 
Emily Koranda and Paityn Engemann combined to throw a complete game shutout against the Bulldogs. Koranda (8-8) tossed 5.1 scoreless innings and struck out three, while Engemann hurled 1.2 hitless relief innings to earn her first save of the season.
 
Missouri State flushed its first two losses of the series and got off to a strong start on Sunday. Lauren Rowland drove in her 20^th run of the season in the top of the first inning, scoring Halle Studer with a double to left field, to put Mo State up 1-0 early. It was the only run of the day the Bears would need, but Missouri State added some insurance in the fourth and seventh innings.
 
In the fourth inning, Riley Baber led off with single to center field and Rowland followed with a single to second before both advanced a base on a throwing error. After a pitching change, Kayla Ulrich sent a sacrifice fly to left field, pushing across the Bears' second run of the day.
 
Looking to build more of a cushion, the Bears turned to small ball in the top of the seventh inning. After Ulrich drew a leadoff walk, Alexis Perales, Elizabeth Bobbitt and Sofia King laid down three consecutive bunts to score a third run.
 
The Mo State defense and pitching staff closed the door on the Bulldogs all day, stranding 11 Louisiana Tech baserunners throughout the course of the game. The Bulldogs left two on base in each of the second through sixth innings. Engemann came on in relief in the bottom of the sixth with one out and two runners in scoring position, and she immediately got a ground out and swinging strikeout to end the LA Tech threat.
 
Rowland led the way with two hits on the afternoon, while Rowland, Ulrich and King collected RBI. The Bears return home for five straight games, beginning with a midweek matchup against Missouri on Tuesday, March 31 at 5:00 p.m.