SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball (17-20) got back in the win column on Tuesday evening with an 8-2 midweek victory over SIUE (15-23) at Killian Stadium.
 
Despite trailing early in this one, Missouri State used two big innings to earn the win in front of its home crowd. SIUE struck first in Springfield, taking advantage of back-to-back free passes to lead off the game. After that, two RBI singles gave the Cougars the early lead.
 
Mo State's offense was quiet for the first two frames, but they grabbed the lead and wouldn't surrender it after posting a three-run third inning. Addison Drummond and Emily Gerardy led off the third with back-to-back singles, before Halle Studer drove everyone home with a three-run homer to left center field, her team-leading fifth longball of the season.
 
In the top of the fourth inning, Mo State's defense committed two errors to start the inning and then a single loaded the bases. The Bears didn't flinch as Emily Koranda got a crucial strikeout before Missouri State turned its 17^th double play of the season as Gerardy tagged the runner going to second and tossed over to first for the second out, getting Mo State out of the inning unscathed.
 
The fifth inning was another big one for the Bears offensively. Halle Studer got on base via a walk to lead things off before an SIUE throwing error allowed her to score and Brynn Romine to make it all the way to third base with no outs. From there, Kayla Ulrich drove in Romine with an RBI double to right center field and two batters later Lauren Rowland hit her fourth home run of the season to give Mo State a 7-2 lead.
 
Missouri State added an insurance run in the sixth inning as Sofia King worked a leadoff walk and worked her way around the bases before scoring on a wild pitch. The Bears then retired the Cougars in order in the top of the seventh to secure the 8-2 midweek win.
 
All seven of Mo State's hits in the game came from different batters, while Studer led the way with three RBI followed by Rowland with two. Alexis Perales showed off her arm behind the plate, throwing out two SIUE baserunners in the game. In the circle, the duo of Koranda and Paityn Engemann put together a strong performance. Koranda earned her 10^th win of the season after allowing two earned runs on four hits and striking out three in 4.0 innings of work. Engemann earned her third save after hurling 3.0 hitless relief innings.
 
The Bears are on the road at Sam Houston this weekend (April 10-12) for a three-game Conference USA series.