SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Shaye Barton hit a two-strike, two-out single in the top of the seventh to score the tying run but Missouri State claimed a win as Kaitlin Beason hit a two-out solo home run as the Bears walked off with a 5-4 win over Indiana State in the second game of a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader Saturday.
 
Indiana State (23-24, 10-12) dropped its second game of the day after Kylie Stober broke open a 1-1 tie with a two-run double off the center field wall in the top of the sixth inning. In the bottom half of the frame, Missouri State (31-16, 16-5) threatened with bases loaded with no outs before two straight ground balls and force outs home prevented any runs from scoring.
 
The Sycamores were almost out of the inning when a Shaye Barton error on a throw to third for the force out wasn't caught and a throw home went awry, allowing three runs to score and the Bears to take the lead. That happened before Barton drove in the tying run in the top of the seventh.
 
Arielle Blankenship (8-4) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs, only one of which was earned, on four hits while walking one in 2 1/3 innings in the circle. Abbey Kruzel struck out three in 4 1/3 innings pitched in the start.
 
Steffany Dickerson (6-5) was credited with the win with 2/3 innings pitched, allowing only one hit. Beason, who hit the game-winning home run, led the Bears with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Mallory Marsicek tied a career high for hits as she was 3-for-4 in the game with an RBI and a run scored as she thrived in the No. 2 spot in the batting order. She made two putouts and was credited with three assists at shortstop in the field for the Sycamores. Her three hits matches the career-best three hits she recorded against Bradley on April 8.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
Indiana State is now 9-8 this year in one-run games.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Steffany Dickerson, Missouri State (5-6)
• Loss: Arielle Blankenship, Indiana State (8-4)
• Save: None

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 23-24 (10-12 MVC)
• Missouri State: 31-16 (16-5 MVC)

NOTABLES

• Indiana State is now 26-63 all-time against Missouri State. The Sycamores have won the third game in the series against the Bears in each of the last two seasons.
• Michael Perniciaro is now 9-14 all-time as a head coach against Missouri State.
• Leslie Sims' 10-game hitting streak came to an end, only reaching on a fielder's choice.
• Kylie Stober her second career double in the game. Of her three career extra-base hits, two were hit in Saturday's doubleheader.

 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Softball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.