TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State softball continues its homestand this weekend, hosting Missouri State for a three-game series at Price Field, with first pitch set for 3 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, and noon Sunday.
The Sycamores enter the matchup at 12-25 overall and 6-6 in MVC play, ranking seventh in the conference, while the Bears come in at 11-26 overall and 9-6 in Valley play, sitting fourth in the standings.
Last Time Out: Indiana State split its Tuesday doubleheader against Evansville, winning game one 5-3 before falling 6-0 in game two at Price Field.
In the opener, the Sycamores struck early with a two-run double from Livi Colip in the first. Evansville responded with a three-run third inning, but Indiana State reclaimed the lead in the sixth, capitalizing on defensive miscues and a clutch two-run single from Madison Poulson.
Hailey Griffin earned the win with six innings pitched, while Cassi Newbanks secured the save. Poulson and Morgan Goodrich led the offense with two hits each.
Game two saw Evansville take control, scoring three runs in both the third and fifth innings, highlighted by a three-run homer from Adams. Indiana State managed just four hits, including a triple from Hannah Welch, but couldn't push across a run.
Lauren Sackett took the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) over six innings.
Sycamore Standouts: Indiana State's offense has been led by a balanced lineup, with multiple players contributing at the plate this season. Lauren Marsicek leads the team with a .286 batting average, tallying eight doubles and 10 RBIs.
Morgan Goodrich has been a key contributor, posting a .284 average with a team-high 19 walks and four stolen bases. Madison Poulson follows closely behind at .283, leading the Sycamores with 30 hits and seven stolen bases.
Brailey Mills boasts the highest on-base percentage (.410) while adding 10 walks and six RBIs. Abby Widmar has shown power at the plate, recording a team-best .440 slugging percentage with three doubles and two home runs.
Sophie Esposito and Hannah Welch have provided a strong mix of power and speed in the lineup, combining for 52 hits, 28 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases.
Esposito has recorded a .250 average with 26 hits, including three doubles, two triples, and two home runs, while driving in 13 runs. Welch has matched her with 26 hits, adding five doubles, two triples, and two home runs while leading the team in total bases (41) and stolen bases (8).
In the Circle: Hailey Griffin leads the Sycamores with a 6-6 record and a 2.78 ERA. She ranks fourth in the MVC with 85 strikeouts in 93.1 innings, allowing 70 hits, 48 runs, and 31 walks. Opponents are hitting .204 against her. Griffin has made 20 appearances in the circle and completed 6 games, including 3 shutouts and one save.
Scouting Missouri State: Missouri State has a team batting average of .258, with 245 hits in 948 at-bats across 37 games. The team has hit 36 doubles, 5 triples, and 21 home runs, totaling 127 RBIs and 354 total bases, for a .373 slugging percentage. The Bears are 27-33 in stolen base attempts.
McKenzie Vaughan excels as both a hitter and a pitcher for Missouri State. At the plate, she holds a .259 batting average with 30 hits in 116 at-bats, contributing 5 doubles, eight home runs, and 29 RBIs, while scoring 15 runs and slugging .526. She also has a .338 on-base percentage with 13 walks, and 18 strikeouts.
On the mound, Vaughan boasts a 3.87 ERA and a 7-7 record in 21 appearances, including 17 starts. She has completed 3 games and recorded 1 shutout, pitching 76.0 innings, allowing 105 hits, 51 runs, and 42 earned runs. With 25 walks and 32 strikeouts, she has held opponents to a .329 batting average, while also giving up 12 doubles, 1 triple, and 7 home runs.
Matchup History: Indiana State's all-time record against Missouri State in softball is 33-75. Their most recent matchup on May 8, 2024, ended in a 4-3 loss during the MVC Tournament. At home, the Sycamores have a 16-32 record, and on the road, they are 12-37.
The largest margin of victory for Indiana State in the series is 11-0 on April 21, 2007, and their smallest margin of victory is 6-5 on May 3, 2024. Over the course of these matchups, the Sycamores have scored 297 total runs, averaging 2.75 runs per game.
Last year, Indiana State won the series 2-1 at Missouri State. After falling 4-2 in game one, the Sycamores bounced back with a 6-5 victory in game two and secured the series win with a 3-1 win in game three.
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