SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Missouri State edged the Drake University softball team in a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader Saturday at Killian Stadium.
Missouri State (15-9, 6-1 MVC) defeated Drake (5-17, 1-4 MVC) by scores of 5-4 and 4-1.
In the first game, the teams traded four-run innings in the third frame. Drake used small ball for its runs.
Haylee Lehman reached and advanced to second on an error,
Macy Johnson followed with a walk. The Bulldogs then strung together four singles in the next five at-bats, started by
Libby Ryan's two-run single through the left side and capped by
Aubree Beitzinger's single to left field.
Missouri State hit a two-run home run, a solo home run and had an RBI single for its other run off
Nicole Timmons. Later, the Bears broke the 4-4 tie in the sixth inning, loading the bases and scored the deciding run off a bases loaded walk drawn by Frost coming against
Emma Richards to make it 5-4 in favor of the home team.
Drake had one final chance in the seventh as Johnson extended her career-best hitting streak to 24 games with a two-out double to left. Ryan was up next but her liner was caught by the shortstop to end the game.
Addie Lightner and
Emily Valtman each had two hits for the Bulldogs. Valtman drove in two runs while Beitzinger and Ryan had one RBI each.
Timmons, who started, pitched 4.2 innings and allowed four runs on four hits with six walks and three strikeouts. Richards (1-6) pitched 1.1 innings and allowed one run on one hit with two walks and one strikeout.
Missouri State jumped out early in game two with three runs in the first off
Mackenzie Hupke. The Bears strung together hits, took advantage of two wild pitches by Hupke and delivered with an RBI single and a two-RBI single.
Later in the third and sixth innings, the Bulldogs had runners on first and second base in each frame, but couldn't get the timely hit off Madison Hunsaker.
Drake finally broke through against Hunsaker in its final at-bat with two outs. Lehman singled to right center and came in to score on Johnson's triple to right center. Johnson though was stranded at third as Ryan grounded out to short.
Hupke (2-2) went five innings and allowed four runs on eight hits with four walks and five strikeouts.
Allie Timmons pitched one scoreless inning in relief.
Johnson had two hits to extend her impressive hitting streak to 25 games. Lehman had her second career two-hit performance. Beitzinger had the Bulldogs other hit.
The teams close the series Sunday at 11 a.m. on ESPN+.
