SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball (16-20, 5-10 CUSA) dropped both games in Friday's doubleheader against Liberty (18-19, 11-4 CUSA) at Killian Stadium in Springfield.
 
Game 1: Liberty 7, Missouri State 1
It was close for a while in the first game of the day as Liberty led 1-0 with four innings in the books. The first run of the day for the Flames came in the second inning on a double play ball for the Bears, but the runner at third was able to score.
 
After Liberty added a second run in the top of the fifth, the visiting Flames stretched the lead even further with a four-run sixth inning. Four hits and two walks led to those runs as Mo State trailed 6-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth. The Bears were unable to take advantage of a ground-rule double to lead off the sixth as they got just one other baserunner on by a hit by pitch and stranded them both.
 
After Liberty added another run in the seventh, Mo State faced a seven-run deficit as the Bears were down to their last three outs. Elizabeth Bobbitt broke up the shutout with a solo homer to left field to score the lone run of the day for the Bears. Sofia King added a single a couple of batters later, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the game with Liberty tying the series at one game apiece.
 
Game 2: Liberty 8, Missouri State 0 (5 Innings)
The Flames kept the momentum on their side in the second game of Friday's doubleheader.
 
Both squads posted zeroes on the scoreboard in the first two innings and stranded a combined five runners in those frames. Liberty posted a single run in the top of the third after back-to-back hits following a Missouri State double play that erased a leadoff single.
 
The top of the fourth was the turning point in this one as Liberty played small ball to push across four runs. The Flames used three singles, two squeeze bunts and a sacrifice fly to score their runs and stretch the lead over the Bears to 5-0.
 
In the fifth inning, Liberty moved the game into run-rule territory with a three-run inning that featured four hits and a Mo State error to make it 8-0 in favor of the visitors. Needing a run to extend the game, Missouri State went down in order, dropping the series against the Flames.
 
The Bears worked three walks in the game but recorded zero hits.
 
UP NEXT
Missouri State will close its five-game home stand on Tuesday (April 7) against SIUE. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. and the game will stream on ESPN+.