SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball (22-27, 10-16 CUSA) defeated New Mexico State (25-25, 15-11 CUSA) by a score of 3-1 to claim the series on Friday afternoon at Killian Stadium.
Freshman right-hander
Emily Koranda (13-14) was once again the story of the day as she gave up just one run on one hit in her second consecutive complete game against the Aggies. She struck out five New Mexico State batters to eclipse 100 strikeouts on the season and limited the visitors to just two free passes.
New Mexico State jumped on the board first with a two-out solo home run, but the Aggies would barely touch Koranda from then on. Missouri State missed an opportunity to even up the game in the first after loading the bases with two outs.
The Bears finally broke through in the bottom of the third inning.
Riley Baber led off the frame with a single to left field, before
Kayla Ulrich hit her sixth home run of the season to give Missouri State a 2-1 advantage after three.
With Koranda cruising in the circle, Mo State added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Following an Ulrich one-out double to left center field,
Alexis Perales drove her in with an RBI single to right field to push the lead to 3-1.
That's all Missouri State would need as Koranda and Co. retired the last 14 New Mexico State batters she faced in the ballgame.
Ulrich led the way with a three-hit day at the plate that included a double and a two-run homer. Perales and
Emily Chadwick also logged multiple-hit days for the Bears. Mo State struck out just two times on the afternoon and left nine on base.
Missouri State will close out its season tomorrow (May 2) with the series finale against New Mexico State. First pitch at Killian Stadium is set for 12:00 p.m.
#GoBears
