DES MOINES, Iowa – Missouri State edged the Drake University softball team, 2-1, on Sunday at Ron Buel Field in the rubber match between the two Missouri Valley Conference teams.
 
Drake (24-16, 12-2 MVC) had the tying run on second base in the bottom of the seventh, but leadoff hitter, sophomore Kelsey Wright (Olathe, Kan.), struck out to end the game.
 
Freshman Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.) cut the Bulldogs' deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run. It is the third career home run for Pena.
 
Sophomore Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) pitched another solid outing going seven innings and allowing two runs on six hits along with 11 strikeouts and just one walk. It is the eighth game this season Newman has struck out 10 or more batters. The tough loss drops her record to 17-8 on the season.
 
Missouri State (16-23, 5-8 MVC) scored its first run in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI double by Erin Duewel. Bethany Sullinger added the Bears other run in the top of the sixth inning with her own RBI double.
 
Drake finished the game with five hits and stranded six base runners. The Bulldogs had runners on first and second base with one out in both the second and the fifth innings, but stranded them.
 
Sophomore Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) led Drake with two hits while sophomore Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa), Pena and Wright each had one hit.
 
Drake has a fast turnaround as it continues MVC action Tuesday with a doubleheader at UNI starting at 4 p.m.