Box Score NORMAL, Ill. – Missouri State softball (13-29, 11-8 MVC) fell 8-4 in the series opener at Illinois State (17-25, 10-7) here Thursday evening. 
 
Missouri State put a couple of runners on base with two outs to start the game, but couldn't take advantage as the Bears posted a zero in the first frame. From there, Illinois State struck first after three consecutive singles to start the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. The MoState defense came up clutch and limited the damage, utilizing a double play and ground out to end the inning. 
 
The Redbirds added another run in the second with a RBI single through the left side, before Missouri State finally broke through as the game entered the top of the third. 
 
After two quick outs to lead off the third, the Bears put together a two-out rally. Chloe Merced got things going with a single up the middle, followed by a fielder's choice that allowed Merced to advance to third on a throwing error to put runners on the corners. MoState took full advantage of the Redbird mishap, as Halle Studer knocked a double to left field to drive in the first run of the game for the Bears. McKenzie Vaughan stepped into the box next and gave Missouri State the lead as she snuck a two-RBI single through the left side to make it a 3-2 game in favor of the Bears. 
 
The momentum in the game really shifted in the fourth and fifth innings as Illinois State scored two runs in the fourth and four in the fifth to reclaim and extend the lead to 8-3. In the fourth, the Redbirds used three singles, a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch to ultimately push two runs across before leaving three runners stranded. The fifth saw more of the same from the Redbirds after a Missouri State error allowed the leadoff batter to reach. Illinois State then reeled off five singles in the inning to tack on four insurance runs. 
 
It appeared as though the Bears might get a little bit of momentum after Vaughan launched a solo homer to lead off the sixth inning. It marked her 10^th home run of the season and the 29^th long ball of her career as she now sits two homers away from tying the program record of 31 set by Olivia Krehbiel last season. 
 
Despite a couple of singles in the inning, the Bears would strand two runners in the sixth. With one final chance to extend the game in the seventh, Merced drew a leadoff walk for Missouri State. Unfortunately, a double play essentially iced the game for the Redbirds as Illinois State closed it out to hand MoState an 8-4 loss on the road. 
 
The two squads combined for 25 hits and left 17 total runners on base in the game. Studer collected three hits on the evening and drove in a run, while Vaughan drove in the other three runs for the MoState offense. 
 
Missouri State and Illinois State have altered the schedule for the remainder of the series due to the threat of inclement weather. The Bears and Redbirds will conclude the series tomorrow (April 18) with a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m.