SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State pounded out a season-high 14 hits and scored in every inning to post a 13-3 run-rule win over visiting UIC here Friday, lifting the Bears to a 2-0 start in Missouri Valley Conference play.

McKenzie Vaughan, Alexis Perales and Kenzie Derryberry each contributed three hits for the Bears (3-19, 2-0 MVC) with Derryberry posting six total bases on the afternoon. Vaughan drove in a game-high three runs.

The tandem of Mackenzie Chacon and Aubrey Johansen got the Bears to the finish line in the circle. Johansen (1-3) entered the game with the Bears leading 11-3 in the top of the fifth, but UIC had the bases loaded an no outs. She immediately induced a double-play and retired all five batters she faced from there to get the official decision. Chacon fanned four in 3.0 innings of work.

The Bears plated three in the bottom of the first thanks to an RBI single by Riley Baber and a hit by Perales that was mishandled in left field, allowing two more MSU runs to score. In the second, Derryberry's leadoff triple started another three-run rally with Kayla Ulrich driving home a run to chase UIC starter Talyn Fordham (0-2). Later in the second, Vaughan's two-run double made it a 6-1 game.

Missouri State blew things open in the third with a five-run frame, powered by six hits and a pair of UIC errors. The Bears sent 11 players to the plate in the inning and rode the momentum of Perales' leadoff double and Vaughan's two-run single to gain an 11-3 lead.

After Johansen's magic took the wind out of UIC's sails in the top of the fourth, Derryberry doubled and scored from second on a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning. Chloe Merced then drove in a run with a ground ball to short to make it 11-3. 

Johansen then pitched a 1-2-3 fifth to end the game.

The Flames (4-21, 0-2 MVC) got two hits from catcher Jo Jo Santiago, while Emma Gumont's double in the third was the only extra-base hit of the day for the visitors.

The teams will reconvene Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at Meador Park for the series finale. Admission is free for all home games this season.