SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball (11-12) fell 12-0 in five innings at the hands of the visiting No. 7 Arkansas Razorbacks (22-2) in its home opener on Monday night.
 
The highlight of the day was the incredible crowd that showed up for the squad's first home game of the season. The crowd of 677 set a new attendance record at Killian Stadium, surpassing the previous mark of 561 on April 28, 2018 against Indiana State.  
 
Arkansas got on the board first in this one, using a couple of doubles to push across three runs in the top of the first inning to grab an early lead. It looked like MoState had something working in the home half of the third after a Brynn Romine single and a Halle Studer hit by pitch to start the frame, but a foul out and a double play ball squashed the early Mo State threat.
 
The powerful Razorback offense, which ranked 5^th in the nation in batting average and runs entering the day, posted five runs in the second inning with an RBI double, an RBI single and a two-run homer and four more in the third inning on a grand slam to lead 12-0 after three.
 
Missouri State once again got the leadoff run on in the third with an Emily Gerardy double down the left field line, but that was all for the Bears in the frame. The Bears allowed just one hit in the fourth and ended the inning with a double play, and they retired the Razorbacks in order in the fifth. The offense just wasn't quite there for Mo State on the evening as the Bears managed one baserunner in each of the last two innings before falling 12-0 in run-rule fashion.
 
The Bears will be back in action this weekend (March 13-15) as they host Kennesaw State in their first home Conference USA series. All three games will stream on ESPN+.