Missouri State University

March 13, 2013

Box Score

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - The Missouri State softball team (9-11) fell on hard times in the final road game leading into the home opener with a 10-1 loss at SIU Edwardsville (13-6) on Wednesday afternoon.

The Bears got out of the box early against SIUE hurler and OVC Pitcher of the Week Haley Chambers. Kerri Cunningham singled to left with one away to get the inning going. Heather Duckworth then drew a walk to push Cunningham into scoring position. The next hitter, Mary Stephens looped a single just inside the right field line to score the first run of the game.

SIUE answered in the bottom of the inning. The Cougars mustered just one hit, but a couple of MSU mishaps opened the door to a four-run inning.

A leadoff walk by Stacia Boeckstiegel in the second looked promising for MSU to rebound. But the Cougars got a fielder's choice putout and caught the Bears' runner stealing to end the frame.

SIUE busted the game open in the third. Five consecutive Cougars reached to start the inning and six hits pushed across six runs to boost the SIUE lead to 10-1.

Missouri State freshman Braxton Coil began the fifth inning with a solid double to right-center, her first hit as a Bear. Pinch runner Ali Trickey advanced to third, but was stranded there as the game ended.

The Bears return to Springfield for the home opener against UNI to open conference play. MSU will play the Panthers in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 16 and a single game on Sunday, March 17 at Killian Stadium with games beginning at 12 p.m. each day.