SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball (23-16, 13-3 MVC) earned a 4-3 ninth inning, walk-off victory over UIC (1-37, 0-15 MVC) here Saturday afternoon to remain undefeated at home on the season.
With the victory, MSU improved to 3-0 in extra-inning games and 7-1 in one-run games this season. The Bear also moved to 21-2 when scoring three or more runs.
Much like yesterday’s series opener, the Bears found themselves down early but continued to fight back and came up with a couple of clutch hits.
The Flames got on the board first with two runs in the top of the second inning. UIC worked the bases loaded via two singles, a sacrifice bunt, a stolen base and a walk, and then two MSU errors on a fly ball scored two runs.
After managing a single baserunner in the second and sitting the Flames down in order in the top of the third, the Bear offense finally broke through. Ellie McCoy got things started with a one-out double to right field, then a UIC fielding error and an Olivia Krehbiel sacrifice fly put MSU on the board. Kenzie Derryberry strolled to the plate and knocked a two-out single to shortstop to collect an RBI and tie the game at 2-2. After Derryberry stole second and advanced to third on a second UIC error, Annie Mueller sent a double to right field to give the Bears a 3-2 lead with three innings in the books.
UIC kept battling and responded with a run in the fourth to tie it up once again following a leadoff double, a sacrifice bunt and a single up the middle. Both teams then entered a pitcher’s duel as MSU continued to put the pressure on but couldn’t push a run across.
Offensively, the Bears left five runners stranded in the fourth through eighth innings. Meanwhile, freshman Makenzi Swick came on in relief in the top of the fifth inning and was incredible down the stretch. Swick retired the first 10 batters she faced and allowed just one hit through her first four innings.
As the game entered the ninth still tied at 3-3, Swick quickly forced two outs before surrendering a walk. However, she didn’t allow the runner to move as she forced the next batter to fly out to send the game to the bottom of the ninth.
In the home half of the ninth, McKenzie Vaughan led things off with a single down the left field line that deflected off the umpire. As freshman Emily Chadwick came on to pinch run, McCoy laid down a sacrifice bunt and Chadwick used heads-up baserunning to advance to third base with nobody covering the bag. With a runner on third and one out, Tess Weakly sent a hard grounder to shortstop and the throw to the plate was off the mark as Chadwick scored to give MSU the 4-3 extra-inning, walk-off victory to move to 10-0 at Killian Stadium this season.
Derryberry logged two hits, was hit by a pitch and stole two bases on the afternoon, while three Bears knocked doubles in the game.
In the circle, Swick (3-0) turned in a stellar performance after hurling 5.0 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit, walking one and striking out two Flames in relief.
The Bears will go for the series sweep tomorrow (April 16) against UIC. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. CT and the game will stream on ESPN+.
