SPRINGFIELD — Visiting Indiana State scattered six hits and overcame an early Missouri State lead here Saturday to overtake the Bears, 3-1, in the final home game of the season for MSU.
The Sycamores (20-29, 8-16 MVC) took the decisive third game of the conference series with a two-run rally in the sixth and impressive pitching from winner Cassi Newbanks (3-8) and reliever Megan Asher.
With the score tied, 1-1, ISU pulled ahead on a sac fly by Kenzie Cornwell and an RBI single to center from Danielle Henning that made it a 3-1 game.
MSU starter Gracie Johnston (5-16) kept the Bears in it, collecting her fourth strikeout of the game to end the sixth and pitching a 1-2-3 seventh to keep the game within reach. She walked just one and surrendered six hits in a complete-game effort.
Alexis Perales started the home half of the seventh with an infield single to the left side to bring the tying run to the plate with no outs. But ISU’s Asher was up to the task, striking out the side to end the threat while picking up her third save of the season.
Newbanks allowed just three hits in 4.2 innings of work, while Asher closed things out with three strikeouts over the final 2.1 innings, allowing just two singles.
Early in the game, Indiana State worked around three walks in the bottom of the first, but the Bears broke through in the home half of the second on an RBI triple by Olivia Krehbiel to make it a 1-0 game.
The Sycamores knotted things up in the top of the third on the first homer of the season by Luci Kapelka, a solo shot to left center. The 1-1 deadlock remained until the sixth.
Perales led all hitters with a 2-for-3 performance for Missouri State.
Saturday’s game also featured a pregame celebration of coach Holly Hesse’s 36-year coaching career at MSU. More than 50 Bears softball alums were in attendance along with recognition from Springfield mayor Ken McClure, MVC commissioner Jeff Jackson, and others.
Missouri State (17-31, 13-14 MVC) will have to wait until Sunday’s league results to determine its seed for next week’s MVC Tournament in Normal, Ill.
