Softball Bears Fall in Saturday Doubleheader at Bradley

PEORIA Ill. – Missouri State (6-18, 2-5 MVC) dropped both games of a doubleheader on the road at Bradley (14-14, 4-1 MVC) here Saturday afternoon.
 
 
Game 1 – Bradley 3, Missouri State 0
The first game of the afternoon doubleheader saw a pitcher’s duel between the Bears and Braves. 
 
Missouri State threatened early in the game with a couple of walks and a passed ball to put Bears on second and third with two outs, but MSU just couldn’t push a run across. 
 
From there, Gracie Johnston and the Bears defense cruised, carrying a perfect game into the fifth inning on the road. Then, the Braves broke through in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs on three extra-base hits to take the lead. 
 
Later on in the top of the seventh needing three runs to extend the game, the Bears got two runners on the basepaths courtesy of a hit by pitch and a walk with two outs. Unfortunately, Missouri State couldn’t extend the rally and the Bears were no-hit in game one, suffering a 3-0 loss.  
 
 
Game 2 – Bradley 7, Missouri State 5
After getting shut out in the first game of the afternoon, the Bears responded early in game two, opening the scoring with a run in the second inning. 
 
The Bears threatened in the first, loading the bases with two outs, but were unable to push the run across. But, in the second inning, Olivia Krehbiel knocked an RBI single to left field with two outs to score the game’s first run and give the Bears an early lead. 
 
Following a scoreless third inning, the Bears added two runs to extend their lead. After a walk, and error and a stolen base, Ellie McCoy scored MSU’s second run on a passed ball. With one out on the board, Krehbiel walked up to the plate and knocked her second RBI single, this time to center field to make it 3-0 in favor of the Bears. 
 
Bradley scored its first runs in the bottom of the fourth, utilizing three hits to bring home two runs and cut MSU’s lead to a single run. Following a quiet fifth inning for both sides, Missouri State strung together two singles before Kenzie Derryberry sent a ball to the right center field gap to score another run and make it 4-2 Bears. 
 
Unfortunately, one inning made all the difference in this one as Bradley put a five-spot on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Braves used six hits and a MSU error to take the lead from the Bears and extend it to 7-4 after six. 
 
Missouri State showed fight in the seventh as Annie Mueller led off the inning with a solo homer to left center field, bringing the Bears back within two runs. MSU got a runner on via an error, but a fielder’s choice and a ground out ended the game with Bradley coming out on top, 7-5. 
 
The Bears and Braves will face off in the series finale tomorrow (March 24). First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. and the game will stream on ESPN+.