SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -

Final Score: Missouri State 4, Loyola 0
Records: Loyola (17-9, 0-5 MVC); Missouri State (15-11, 3-2 MVC)
Location: Killian Stadium -- Springfield, Mo.
Stats: Box Score 

In Short
Missouri State (15-11, 3-2 MVC) broke a scoreless tie with a four-run fifth inning and then held off Loyola University Chicago's seventh-inning rally for a 4-0 win in game one of a doubleheader today at Killian Stadium. The Ramblers fall to 17-9 overall and 0-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference with the loss.

How It Happened
The game was a pitcher's duel between Keenan Dolezal and Missouri State's Kaitlin Beason for the first four-plus innings before the Bears were able to break through in the bottom of the fifth. A lead-off walk got things going for Missouri State in the fifth and Madison Jones' RBI groundout put the Bears on the board first. Erika Velasquez Zimmer followed with a run-scoring single and two batters later, Bethany Sullinger ripped a two-run single up the middle to give MSU a 4-0 lead.

Brooke Wilson's bunt single provided the Ramblers with their first hit on the game in the top of the sixth, but Beason worked her way out of the inning without further damage.

Loyola tried to mount a rally in the seventh when Katie Kasubke reached base on a one-out single to left field, and pinch hitter Kristin Lea coaxed a walk from Beason. One out later, McGee ripped a single to center to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate in the form of pinch hitter Emily Borg, but Beason induced a comebacker to get out of the jam and earn the win.

A Look At The Numbers
- Dolezal struck out three and allowed just two hits other than the four MSU tallied in the fifth inning.
- McGee ran her hitting streak to four games with a seventh-inning single.
- Jones and Sullinger recorded two hits apiece for Missouri State, while Beason scattered three hits over 7.0 innings.

Up Next
Loyola faces Missouri State in game two of a twin bill at 1:30 p.m.