SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball's (15-18) comeback effort came up short against in-state rival Missouri (20-18) as the Bears fell 8-5 on Tuesday night at Killian Stadium.
 
A pair of four-run innings for the Tigers were the difference in this one. Missouri utilized four hits, highlighted by a two-RBI triple, and a walk in the second inning to jump out to an early 4-0 lead in Springfield. Mizzou replicated the four-spot in the top of the third inning, knocking a couple of two-run homers to stretch the visitor's lead to 8-0.
 
Missouri State wasn't going down without a fight against the Southeastern Conference foe. The Bears scored their first run of the night in the bottom of the fourth, as Emily Chadwick recorded an RBI on a bases-loaded ground out to second base.
 
After getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the fifth, Missouri State continued to chip away at the plate in the home half of the inning. With one out and the bases loaded following a couple of singles and walk, Kayla Ulrich tallied an RBI by drawing a walk with the bases full of Bears. Two batters later, Elizabeth Bobbitt sent a two-RBI single to left center field to make it an 8-4 ballgame.
 
The Bears kept the momentum going as Sofia King knocked a leadoff double to left center and Riley Baber later sent her home with a two-out single through the left side to make it a three-run game.
 
Mo State got out of another jam in the top of the seventh, stranding three Tigers on base, as the Bears entered the bottom of the seventh needing three runs to extend the game. The Bears made things interesting, using a leadoff walk and a one-out double to put two runners in scoring position. However, Missouri State couldn't get the big hit as a strikeout and pop up ended the game with the Bears falling 8-5 in the midweek matchup.
 
Bobbitt led the way for Missouri State offensively with a career night, going 3-for-3 with two RBI, a double and a walk. Brynn Romine, Baber and Ulrich also tallied multiple hits on the night. The freshman duo of Emily Koranda and Brylee Brewster steadied the ship in the circle, combining to toss 5.0 scoreless innings against the Tigers to keep the Bears in the game.
 
Missouri State welcomes Conference USA opponent Liberty for a three-game series this weekend (April 2-4). Thursday and Friday's games will stream on ESPN+.