TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State softball fell to Missouri State on Saturday as the Bears scored three runs in the top of the seventh to sneak past the Sycamores, 8-7, at Price Field.
 
The Sycamores (25-24, 13-10 MVC) tallied nine hits in the contest while Missouri State (29-17, 19-4 MVC) finished with eight including four in the final inning.
 
The series will conclude on Sunday with first pitch set for noon ET following a senior day ceremony for Indiana State's seven seniors.
 
The Action
Missouri State got on the board quickly in the top of the first, hitting a two-run home run to center field to put the Bears up 2-0 after a half-inning of play. The lead would not last long as Indiana State poured in four runs on three hits to take a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the first.
 
Kennedy Shade doubled off the wall in right field to score Olivia Patton and Isabella Henning, tying the game at two with one out. Shade advanced to third on an error and would score on a squeeze bunt by Annie Tokarek to give the Sycamores a 3-2 lead. Following back-to-back walks by Cassie Thomerson and TeAnn Bringle, Kaylee Barrett singled home pinch-runner Morgan Goodrich to grow the ISU lead to 4-2. Missouri State was able to leave the bases loaded, getting back-to-back fly outs to end the opening frame.
 
Between the second and third innings, both teams had a combined one baserunner as Cassie Thomerson drew another walk for the Sycamores in the bottom of the third.
 
After a second-straight 1-2-3 inning in the circle from ISU starter Cassi Newbanks in the top of the fourth, Indiana State got singles from Olivia Patton and Danielle Henning but were unable to convert in the bottom half of the frame.
 
The Bears would retake the lead in the top of the fifth as a RBI single made it a 4-3 game followed by a Sycamore error which allowed two more runs to score, putting Missouri State back in the lead, 5-4. The Sycamores responded quickly again, scoring two runs to go back in front as Kaylee Barrett sent her fourth home run of the season over the wall in left center.
 
Leading 6-5 entering the sixth inning, Hailey Griffin, who came on in relief in the fifth, set down the Bears in order, bringing the Sycamores back to the plate where Randi Jo Pryor singled to right field, scoring Isabella Henning to increase the ISU lead to 7-5 after six innings.
 
Leading off the top of the seventh with a single, the Bears quickly got runners on second and third after a one-out double which forced the Sycamores to go back to the bullpen, putting in Lexi Benko in relief of Griffin. Benko's first batter singled to left, scoring a run to make it a 7-6 contest. Following a stolen base, Missouri State had runners on second and third again and would take the lead on a single through the right side to go up 8-7. Benko got a pair of strikeouts to end the inning. Kaylee Barrett would draw a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh but the Bears were able to hang on for the win to even the weekend series.
 
Lexi Benko took the loss for ISU, dropping her record to 12-8 on the season. At the plate for ISU, Danielle Henning and Kaylee Barrett had two hits apiece while Olivia Patton, Isabella Henning, Kennedy Shade, Randi Jo Pryor and Abi Chipps had one hit each.
 
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