The Missouri State softball team (16-25, 5-10) suffered a doubleheader sweep at the hands of visiting Wichita State (25-18, 11-5) at Killian Stadium on Wednesday night. The Shockers downed the Bears in game one, 17-6, and in game two, 3-2.
Sophomore starting pitcher Kaitlin Beason kept the Shockers in check for much of game two. She allowed singled tallies in three different innings and gave the Bears a chance in game two. She struck out one batter in a complete game effort, her fifth of the season.
Junior Olivia Roark and sophomore Madison Jones each recorded three hits in the twin bill, hitting safely in each game. Junior Mary Stephens had three hits in game one, including a home run, and drove in three. Senior Erin Duewel crossed the plate twice in game one and had an RBI in game two. Sophomore Erika Velasquez Zimmer had a pair of hits in game two, scored a run and had an RBI.
“It was nice to see KB (Beason) keep us in game two,” said head coach Holly Hesse. “Wichita State is a good-hitting team. I am proud of the resiliency of this team to battle until the final out with a chance to win.”
Game 1 – Missouri State 6, Wichita State 17
The Shockers hit two home runs in the top of the first and plated three runs before the Bears came to bat. Junior Erin Struemph limited the damage, stranding the bases loaded for the first of three-consecutive innings.
MSU rallied back in the bottom of the frame. With two away, Duewel, Bethany Sullinger and Stephens recorded consecutive singles and two runs crossed the plate.
After WSU added a run, the Bears got back to work in the bottom of the second. Madison Jones reached on an infield single. Elena Gambill reached on a fielder’s choice to put two aboard. Both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Hailee Vigneaux. An RBI ground out by Beason scored the first run of the frame. With a runner at third and two away, a Shockers error allowed the tying run to come home.
The game didn’t remain tied for long. Wichita State posted four-spots in the third and fourth innings to extend the lead to 12-4. Relief pitcher Jessie Van Es held the deficit there until the bottom of the fifth. Duewel drew a leadoff walk and two batters later, Stephens slammed a two-run home run to center field.
In the top of the seventh, the Shockers scored five times to cap a 17-6 win. WSU tied Killian Stadium records with six home runs and 17 runs scored. The 21 hits broke the stadium record set by MSU last season against UMKC.
Game 2 – Missouri State 2, Wichita State 3
The Bears had runners on base in every inning of game two. Velasquez Zimmer reached via an error in the first and Madison Jones singled in the second, but the Shockers got on the board first with a pair of hits in the top of the second.
In the MSU third inning, Gambill drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. With two away, Velasquez Zimmer doubled to left-center pushing home the tying run. Duewel followed and chopped a single over the head of the pitcher and the speedy Velasquez Zimmer scored from second on the infield hit with a nice slide at the plate.
The lead evaporated as WSU’s Cacy Williams hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth. The game remained knotted at 2-2 until Williams hit another solo shot in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh, Roark and Velasquez Zimmer each singled with two away putting the tying and winning runs on base. The Shockers got a fielder’s choice ground out to end the threat though.
MSU travels to Iowa for the second-straight week to take on UNI in a three-game series in Cedar Falls on Saturday and Sunday. After a Tuesday game at Wichita State, the Bears return to Killian Stadium next Wednesday for a 5:00 p.m. contest against SIU Edwardsville.
