Comeback Bid Falls Short for Softball Bears at Kansas City

KANSAS CITY – Missouri State softball fell to 9-25 on the season with an 8-6 loss on the road at Kansas City (14-24) here Tuesday evening. 
 
It wasn’t the ideal start to the day for the Bears as Kansas City put up a five-run first inning on six hits. The Roos then extended the lead with two runs on three hits to take a 7-0 lead after two innings. 
 
Despite the bleak start, Missouri State didn’t fold and continued to fight back. Makenzi Swick, who came on in relief in the second inning, and the Bears defense posted three scoreless innings to stay in the game. 
 
The Bears finally broke through in the sixth inning as Kayla Ulrich drew a leadoff walk and Annie Mueller drove in two runs with her ninth home run of the season. Kansas City did answer with a single run in the sixth to make it an 8-2 game, but the Bears weren’t quite done.
 
After back-to-back outs to begin the inning, Missouri State put together a two-out rally. Olivia Krehbiel worked a walk and Ellie McCoy was hit by her 12^th pitch of the season before back-to-back singles from Ulrich and Mueller drove in a run each. Following a wild pitch to move runners to second and third, Sidney McLaughlin and Alexis Perales each knocked RBI singles to make it an 8-6 game. Unfortunately, the Bears’ comeback effort fell short as a strikeout ended the game.  
 
Missouri State is back on the road this weekend for a three-game Missouri Valley conference series at Belmont (April 12-14). The entire series will stream on ESPN+.