NORMAL, Ill.- Indiana State Softball was defeated by No.6 Missouri State in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Wednesday evening, in a 4-3 walk-off loss. Indiana State defeated the Bears last weekend in Springfield, where they claimed the series 2-1. The Sycamores finished up the season on Wednesday evening with a record of (20-30, 8-16).
The Sycamores recorded nine hits in the loss on Wednesday evening, which came from Isabella Henning (3), Kennedy Shade (2), Kenzie Cornwell, Luci Kapelka, Lauren Marsicek, and Sophie Esposito.
How It Happened:
The Bears took the 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with a sacrifice fly RBI by Lewis, and an RBI single by Krehbiel to take the first lead of the game over the Sycamores.
The Sycamores trailed 2-0 against the Bears until the fifth inning when Luci Kapelka recorded her second home run of the 2024 season, to cut the Bears lead to 2-1.
Indiana State started a rally and had the chance to take the lead in the sixth inning, when Isabella Henning and Kenzie Cornwell got on base with singles, and Danielle Henning sent a ball to shortstop, where she was originally ruled sale at first with two outs, but the call was overturned and the Sycamores left two runners stranded.
Missouri State added their third run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run by Mueller, to advance their lead to 3-1 over Indiana State after six innings of play.
The Bears needed three outs to take the victory, but the Sycamores put up a fight and tied the game up 3-3 in the final frame. Lauren Marsicek led off with a single, Sophie Esposito connected on a double before Abi Chipps reached on a fielder's choice, which scored Marsicek with a high throw by second basemen. Sophie Esposito tried scoring on the throw, but was thrown out at home to put two outs on the board. Kennedy Shade put the tying run on the board late in the seventh inning when she scored Chipps with an RBI single to make it a 3-3 score with the Bears up to bat.
Missouri State answered in the bottom of the seventh when Mcoy led off with a single, Krehbiel was walked, and a sac bunt moved both runners. Mueller's RBI single to right field scored McCoy and secured the walk-off victory over Indiana State, with a score of 4-3.
Cassi Newbanks started in the circle for the Sycamores, and in 3.2 innings of work, allowed four hits and two runs scored, while striking out two. Megan Asher took over the ball in the fourth inning, where she faced a total of seven batters and allowed one hit and one run scored against the Bears. Lauren Sackett (8-16) took the loss in the circle for Indiana State, when she took over the ball in the sixth inning and allowed three hits and one run scored in the loss.
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