SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball improved to 15-30 on the season with a 6-0 win over Tulsa (19-27) here on Tuesday evening. It marked the Bears' second win over the Golden Hurricane this season. 
 
In very similar fashion to their first meeting this year, it was all Missouri State in this one as the Bears used a five-run fourth inning to propel them to victory. 
 
After leaving four runners stranded across the first three innings, MoState broke through in the fourth. Alexis Perales and Sofia King got the big inning started with back-to-back singles, before Kenzie Derryberry laid down a bunt that loaded the bases after the Tulsa defense failed to get the lead runner on the fielder's choice. With bases loaded and no outs, Emily Gerardy singled through the left side to push the first run of the night across and keep the bases loaded. After a strikeout, senior Chloe Merced delivered the big blow of the night, launching a grand slam to center field to make it a 5-0 game in favor of the Bears. 
 
Missouri State tacked on an additional run in the sixth inning with the help of a Tulsa fielding error to lead off the frame. In the following at-bats, a King single and a Derryberry hit by pitch loaded the bases. Gerardy then came to the plate and drove in a run on the RBI ground out to extend the MoState lead.
 
Tulsa had a couple of scoring opportunities in the ballgame as the Golden Hurricane had runners on second and third with just one out twice, but the Bears defense was up for the challenge each time. The MoState defense also recorded four 1-2-3 innings in the contest.
 
McKenzie Vaughan improved to 8-8 on the season after earning the victory in tonight's game. The right-handed senior hurled 4.0 scoreless innings, while scattering four hits and striking out three. Makenzi Swick came on in relief and tossed 3.0 hitless innings and tallied one strikeout. 
 
Offensively, Merced led the way with four RBI on the evening followed by Gerardy with two runs driven in. King logged the only multiple-hit game for the Bears, going 2-for-3 and scoring a run. 
 
The Bears remain home this weekend as they welcome Belmont for a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series from April 25-27. Senior Day festivities will take place on Saturday, April 26.