SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball (18-23, 6-13 CUSA) fell 3-1 to open the series against first-place Jacksonville State (33-12, 17-2 CUSA) on Friday night at Killian Stadium.
 
It was a pitcher's duel on Friday night in Springfield and the Bears grabbed the early lead. In the second inning, Addison Drummond hit a single through the right side and Alexis Perales sent a double to left center field to set the Bears up with two runners in scoring position. Emily Gerardy then sent a sacrifice fly deep enough to left field to score Drummond, putting the home team up 1-0.
 
Jax State tied the game in the top of the fourth. A leadoff single and sacrifice bunt set the Gamecocks up with a runner in scoring position and just one out. After a single to put runners on the corners, Jax State executed the squeeze play to score the run and tie the game at 1-1.
 
Missouri State worked out of a jam in the sixth inning, stranding two Gamecocks in scoring position. The Bears had new life in the inning as a few batters before, a longball over the left field fence was just foul and then Mo State was able to put a zero on the scoreboard in the frame.
 
Unfortunately, it didn't flip the momentum fully to the Bears side as Missouri State put just one runner on base in the sixth. Then, Jax State added the winning runs in the top of the seventh. A leadoff double set the Gamecocks up with a prime scoring opportunity, and a short time later Jax State knocked an RBI triple and an RBI single in back-to-back at-bats to grab a 3-1 lead and ultimately the win.
 
Four Bears had hits in this one, led by Ulrich and Perales who each logged a double. Mo State drew two free passes, struck out four times and left six on base in the contest.
 
The Bears and Gamecocks are back in action tomorrow (April 18) at Killian Stadium. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.