SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball (22-16, 12-3 MVC) earned a 4-2 walk-off victory over UIC (1-36, 0-14 MVC) here Friday night to open the three-game series.
The Bears found themselves down twice in the matchup but came up with the clutch hit when it mattered most to remain undefeated at home, moving to 9-0 at Killian Stadium this season.
After a quiet couple of innings to begin the game, UIC struck first in the third. The Flames tallied back-to-back base hits to lead off the inning, before a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly scored the first run of the game. However, on the sacrifice fly, MSU’s McKayla Carney doubled up the UIC runner trying to advance to third to end the inning and limit the damage.
Missouri State answered immediately in the home half of the third as Kelsie Lewis starting things off with a leadoff single to right field. Following a fielder’s choice for the first out of the inning, the Bears took advantage of two UIC errors, eventually scoring on an Ellie McCoy squeeze bunt to tie the game at 1-1.
UIC jumped back out in front in the top of the fifth after knocking another leadoff single to get things rolling. The Flames eventually moved runners to second and third with one out, when a hard-hit single loaded the bases as Kenzie Derryberry made a diving grab to keep the ball in the infield to save a run from scoring. Following a MSU pitching change, UIC hit an RBI ground out to go up, 2-1.
Once again, the Bears wasted no time with their response, as Lewis again got the offense started with a base knock. MSU got runners on the corners following a ground out, a McKenzie Vaughan intentional walk and a Lewis stolen base. McCoy then sent a sacrifice fly to left field to score Lewis and knot things back up at 2-2 after five innings.
The Bears threatened in the bottom of the sixth but came up empty as the game remained tied heading to the final inning. UIC managed a two-out single in the top of the seventh but that was it as MSU came to the plate with a chance to walk it off.
Carney led the inning off with a single to right center field to put the leadoff batter aboard for the Bears.
Then, Vaughan played the role of hero as she sent a 2-0 pitch over the wall in center field to secure the 4-2 walk-off win for the Bears to open the series.
Lewis owned MSU’s only multi-hit game of the game, while Vaughan and McCoy collected two RBI each. Carney also scored two runs on the night.
In the circle, Vaughan (4-5) earned the victory after coming on in relief and tossing 2.2 scoreless innings, while allowing just one hit.
MSU and UIC will face off in game two of the series tomorrow (April 15) at 12 p.m. CT. The game will streamed on ESPN3.
