COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri State softball (10-23) fell 7-2 on the road at in-state rival Missouri (20-18) here Wednesday night. 
 
After nine straight outs to begin the game between both squads, Missouri's offense exploded in the bottom of the second with seven runs on five hits. The Tigers' seven runs came off of three home runs and a two-RBI double as Missouri State used three different pitchers in the inning. 
 
MoState got its first baserunner of the game after Brynn Romine singled to left field to lead off the third inning. Unfortunately, the Bears couldn't take advantage as the inning ended with three consecutive strikeouts. 
 
The Bears continued to battle, holding the Tigers at bay for the remainder of the game. Missouri stranded five runners as Missouri State allowed just three hits and held the Tigers off the scoreboard following the big second inning. 
 
Missouri State finally broke through in the sixth inning, scoring two runs on a hit and an error. Emily Gerardy reached on an error with one out and Lauren Rowland strolled to the plate and knocked a pinch-hit, two-run home run to make it a 7-2 ballgame. 
 
The Bears had one final chance in the top of the seventh inning. Sidney McLaughlin gave MoState some life after knocking a leadoff double to right field. After a fly out, Halle Studer singled to right field to put runners on the corners. However, a couple of flyouts ended the inning as the second inning surge from the Tigers proved to be too much for the Bears to overcome. 
 
Rowland led the way for MoState with two RBI as the team combined for four hits. The Bears struck out nine times in the ballgame, while the Tigers struck out just once on the evening. Swick had a good outing in the circle in relief, tossing 4.1 innings while scattering three hits and allowing no runs. 
 
Missouri State will now hit the road for a three-game conference series at Northern Iowa. The series will kick off in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Friday, April 4 with first pitch set for 5:00 p.m. The series will stream on ESPN+.