SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri State softball improved to 12-15 (3-2 MVC) on the season with a 3-0 shutout victory over Drake (6-16, 0-3 MVC) to secure the series sweep here Sunday afternoon.
The Bears received another outstanding performance from Gracie Johnston (6-5) in the circle, as the senior tossed a complete-game, two-hit shutout. Johnston allowed no earned runs, while walking two and striking out five Bulldog batters.
At the plate, six different Bears collected a hit while Abby Ford, Alex Boze and McKayla Carney logged RBIs.
Missouri State picked up where it left off following Friday’s doubleheader against the Bulldogs. After a 1-2-3 inning to begin the game, the Bears created traffic on the base paths early with a couple of walks and a double to load the bases with no outs.
Boze then collected an RBI in the next at-bat as she drove in a run with a ground out to first base to put the Bears on the board first.
Drake managed a couple of baserunners in the second inning, but left them stranded as Missouri State went back to work at the plate. Kelsie Lewis led off the inning with a single to shortstop before swiping second base during the next at-bat. Kenzie Derryberry and Ford then hit back-to-back infield ground outs to advance and score Lewis, giving the Bears a 2-0 advantage after two innings.
Johnston held Drake hitless in the third through fifth innings, as the Bears threatened once again in the fifth. Ford reached on an error to begin the inning and quickly stole second base to give MSU a runner in scoring position. Following a ground out and a strikeout, the Bears worked a walk and pinch-runner Chloe Merced stole second to put runners on second and third with two outs. MSU’s McKenzie Vaughan then drew a walk to load the bases, but the Bears were unable to push a run across as they left three on base.
The Bears tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning as a Carney single through the right side scored Annie Mueller from second base, who led the inning off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
MSU carried a 3-0 lead into the final inning as Johnston and Co. polished off the shutout to sweep the weekend and improve to 3-2 in Missouri Valley Conference action.
The Bears will be back in action on Wednesday, March 22 with a midweek matchup against Tulsa. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT at Killian Stadium in Springfield.
