VALPARAISO, Ind. – Missouri State softball improved to 17-15 (7-2 MVC) on the season with a 9-0 run-rule victory to open the series at Valparaiso (3-23, 0-7).
The Bears extended their current win streak to eight games with the victory.
Following a quiet first inning for both teams, Missouri State got the scoring started in the second inning via an Alex Boze single to right center and an Emily Chadwick stolen base that set up Ellie McCoy for an RBI opportunity. McCoy delivered with a no-doubter over the wall in left field to give MSU a 2-0 lead.
MSU kept the offense rolling in the third as Olivia Krehbiel led off the third with a double to left field. Krehbiel advanced to third courtesy of a groundout and scored on the same play following a Valparaiso throwing error to extend MSU’s lead to 3-0.
The Bears allowed just one Valpo baserunner in the bottom of third before breaking the game open in the fourth. McCoy led off the top of the fourth with a hit by pitch and stole second before an Annie Mueller single to shortstop put runners on the corners for the Bears. Kenzie Derryberry then laid down a squeeze bunt to score McCoy and add to the Bear lead.
With Chloe Merced at the plate, a wild pitch scored Mueller and then Merced launched a two-run homer to center field, putting the Bears in front by seven. The Bears continued to create traffic on the basepaths, but left the bases loaded to end the fourth.
Each team managed a runner in the fifth, but that was all for either team as the game entered the sixth.
MSU kicked off the sixth with back-to-back-to-back singles to push its eighth run across, before McCoy later sent a sacrifice fly to center field, making it a 9-0 lead as the Bears headed to the bottom half of the inning looking for a run-rule victory.
Freshman Makenzi Swick and the Bears defense secured the shutout with a pop up, ground out and line out in the bottom of the sixth to defeat the Beacons, 9-0.
Derryberry, Krehbiel and Mueller each logged multiple-hit games on the afternoon, while McCoy and Merced combined for five RBI.
In the circle, Gracie Johnston earned her ninth win of the season after tossing four innings, scattering three hits and giving up no earned runs. Mackenzie Chacon and Swick each threw an inning in relief and didn’t allow a hit.
The series at Valparaiso will conclude on Sunday, April 2 with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. CT.
