SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball improved to 21-16 this season with a 3-2 midweek victory over Kansas City (6-33) here Wednesday evening.
MSU improved to 8-0 at home this season with the win as the Bears kicked off their eight-game home stand.
The Bears jumped on the Roos early, scoring a run in the first inning. Freshman Abby Ford drew a leadoff walk and stole second base to give MSU traffic on the bases early in this one. Olivia Krehbiel wasted no time, bringing Ford home with an RBI single up the middle to give Missouri State a 1-0 lead after one.
Kansas City answered promptly after leading off the second with a single up the middle. A sacrifice bunt, a ground out and a single eventually scored KC’s first run to tie the game.
With the game still tied at one, the Bears reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third, once again sparked by a Ford leadoff walk. As Ford attempted to steal second, the Kansas City fielder was called for obstruction, giving MSU a runner in scoring position with no outs. A fly out and line out set the stage for McKenzie Vaughan, who delivered a two-out, RBI double to right center field to put the Bears back out in front.
Missouri State threatened in the fourth but couldn’t push a run across as they stranded runners at second and third. However, the Bears would break through and extend their lead in the fifth inning, as Tess Weakly knocked the eventual game-winning home run over the wall in center field to put MSU ahead, 3-1.
The Roos made things interesting down the stretch, cutting the lead to one run in the sixth following an RBI double to right field. The Bears were unable to take advantage of a one-out, bases loaded situation in the top of the seventh as they stranded three runners in the one-run game.
Kansas City was down to their final out quickly, but managed a single and worked a walk to make things tight late in the game, but Vaughan forced a pop up to Kelsie Lewis to secure the 3-2 victory.
At the plate, Lewis and Ellie McCoy logged multiple hit games and stole a base for the Bears, while Ford scored two runs and swiped her 20th base of the season. Krehbiel, Vaughan and Weakly each tallied an RBI with Vaughan and Weakly knocking extra-base hits.
In the circle, Vaughan came on in relief in the second inning. She hurled 5.1 innings, while allowing just one earned run as she struck out four Roos in her third victory of the season.
The Bears continue their home stand this weekend as they welcome UIC for a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series. Game one of the series is set for Friday, April 14 at 5 p.m. CT in Springfield. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
