VALPARAISO, Ind. – Missouri State softball won its 10th consecutive game and improved to 19-15 (9-2 MVC) on the season with a doubleheader sweep of Valparaiso (3-25, 0-9 MVC) here Sunday.
The Bears collected their third straight MVC series sweep as they were on fire offensively, scoring 23 runs across the day’s two games.
Game 1 (5 Innings): Missouri State 18, Valparaiso 1
Missouri State provided the fireworks early, posting eight runs in the top of the second inning via three hits, an error, four walks and a hit by pitch. The Bears went off for five runs before Valparaiso logged their first out, as MSU knocked a leadoff single, two doubles, drew four walks and reached on an error to begin the inning. Following an RBI fielder’s choice from Tess Weakly, McKenzie Vaughan sent a sacrifice fly to right field for the seventh run of the second. A batter later following a hit by pitch, Weakly stole home to cap the eight-run inning.
Valparaiso got runners on second and third in the bottom of the second, but Johnston responded with back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the jam.
The Bears would go on to score at least three runs in each of the last three innings, beginning with a two-out rally in the third to extend the lead. Following two quick outs to begin the third, Missouri State took advantage of three Valpo fielding errors, while also collecting two hits in the inning courtesy of an Olivia Krehbiel RBI-single down the left field line and a McKenzie Vaughan double to left center to take an 11-0 lead after three.
The Beacons threated once again in the third, loading the bases after a couple of walks and a hit by pitch, but Johnston and Co. forced a couple of pop ups to keep Valpo off the board.
MSU kept the offense rolling with another three-run inning in the fourth. Ellie McCoy worked a leadoff walk before Kim DeBold and McKayla Carney knocked back-to-back singles to score a run. After two quick outs, Chloe Merced drove in two runs after punching a single up the middle to put the Bears in front 14-0.
Valparaiso broke through for a run in the home half of the fourth with a solo homer to left center before the game entered the final inning.
The Bears continued to show great discipline at the plate, hitting a couple of base knocks while drawing three walks and getting hit by a pitch to stretch the lead to 17-1 in favor of the Bears. Late in the inning, freshman Abby Ford tallied an RBI with a ground out to second base for MSU’s 18th run of the game as the Bears headed to the bottom of the fifth looking to secure the run-rule victory.
Vaughan and MSU closed it out in the bottom of the fifth with two strikeouts looking and a pop up to defeat the Beacons, 18-1, in domination fashion.
Four Bears logged multiple hits in the game as Carney and Merced paced MSU with three RBI each. Meanwhile, McCoy drew three walks and scored three runs. In the circle, Johnston tossed three scoreless innings and struck out three to earn her 10th victory of the season. Vaughan came on to throw two innings in relief, giving up just one earned run and striking out three.
Game 2: Missouri State 5, Valparaiso 2
The second game of the day saw a tighter contest, but the Bears struck first again to jump out to an early lead.
After a couple of quiet innings to begin the game, Kenzie Derryberry sent a one-out triple down the right field line to get the Bear offense rolling in game two. A Krehbiel walk put two runners on before Tess Weakly delivered a two-RBI single to right field, putting the Bears in the lead after two.
McCoy led off the fourth with a single before a walk, a couple of stolen bases and a Derryberry fielder’s choice sacrifice bunt scored two run to put MSU in front by four runs.
Valparaiso put a run on the board in the bottom of the fourth using two singles and a fielding error to cut into the MSU lead. However, the Bears responded quickly with a run of their own in the fifth. A Weakly double to lead off the fifth followed by a Vaughan single to right field set MSU up with a runner on third. Three batters late, Annie Mueller delivered a RBI single to second base, making the game 5-1 in favor of the Bears.
As the game entered the seventh inning, Valparaiso drew a two-out walk and smacked a triple to right center to score another run. However, MSU secured the 5-2 victory with a strikeout swinging to improve to 9-2 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Weakly led the way in game two with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate, paired with two RBI and a run scored. Krehbiel also logged two hits, two stolen bases and a walk.
In the circle, Mackenzie Chacon improved to 5-3 on the year as she allowed no earned runs in six innings of work while striking out four Beacons.
The Bears are back in action on Tuesday, April 4 with a midweek matchup against Central Arkansas. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. CT at Killian Stadium in Springfield.
