SAN ANTONIO — Missouri State scored six runs in the fourth to break a 1-1 tie and the Bears rolled to 10-2, run-rule victory against UTSA on Sunday at Roadrunner Field in the finale of this weekend's UTSA Classic presented by Alamo Area Mutual Housing Association.
Megan Low went 1-for-2 with an RBI, while Darian Blake and Paige Hamilton recorded two hits apiece to lead the Roadrunners (4-4).
Meanwhile, Rebecca McPherson helped fuel the big inning for Missouri State (4-6) with a three-run homer in her only at-bat. Meanwhile, Kerri Cunningham, Lauren Eisenreich and Ali Trickey each plated a pair of runs.
Playing as the home squad on the scoreboard, the Bears opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the second inning.
UTSA starter Alyssa Vordenbaum opened the frame with one of her three strikeouts on the day, but she followed that up with a four-pitch walk to Heather Duckworth, who then advanced 60 feet on a wild pitch. After a flyout, Duckworth came around to score on Eisenreich’s double to the gap in left center.
The Roadrunners responded with a run in the top of the third to tie things up.
Two singles and a pair of fielder’s choices put runners on the corners with two outs. Courtney Buchman broke from first and got caught in a rundown and that allowed Alexis Ramirez to score.
However, the Missouri State offense got rolling from that point and it took advantage of UTSA errors in each of the final two frames.
Eisenreich brought home Duckworth with a fourth-inning double and that put Missouri State ahead for good.
Cunningham drove in two more before McPherson capped the inning with her three-run blast to center, which gave the Bears a 7-1 lead.
UTSA got one run back in the fifth on Low’s bases-loaded walk, but Chelsea Jones was able to work out of the jam. Jones retired Jolene Graham on an infield fly before Jori Fox lined out to second to squash any hopes of a rally.
Missouri State scored three times in the bottom of the frame to end the 12-game tournament.
Vordenbaum (1-2) took the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits in 3.1 innings. The Pasadena native struck out three and walked three. Haylee Staton gave up five unearned runs and recorded two strikeouts in an inning and a third out of the bullpen.
Jones (4-2) scattered eight hits and four walks and gave up just two runs in her five innings of work.
UTSA will be back in action at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, when it will host North Texas (4-5) in a twinbill at Roadrunner Field.