Box Score RUSTON, La. (Feb. 7)  - Missouri State handed the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Softball their third loss of the season with a 5-2 win over the Lady Lions, here Sunday afternoon at the Louisiana Tech Softball Complex.
 
UAPB (0-3) finished the contest with a eight hits with Jasmine Hardwrick tallying two hits to lead the Lady Lions.
 
MSU (3-0) punched out nine hits in the contest with Erika Zimmer, Hailee Vigneaux and Olivia Roark finishing with two hits each to lead the Bears.
 
Kaithlin Beason (1-0) picked up the win for MSU  as she gave up six hits, two earned runs and striking gout three in the six innings of work, while Erin Struemph got the save for MSU as she pitched one inning of relief, allowing two hits and striking out one in the four batters she faced.
 
Hailey Forbes (0-2) received the loss for the Lady Lions as she pitched four and one-third innings, allowing nine hits, four earned runs and striking out two in the 24 batters she faced.  In relief, Shanice Murry pitched one and two-third innings, striking out two in the five batters she faced.
 
MSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as Erin Duewel scored on a Zimmer single to first base.
 
The Bears added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-run homer by Chelsea Thomas.  Both Roark and Zimmer scored in the inning with Roark scoring on a Rebecca McPhearson single and Zimmer scoring on a Beason ground out to second, giving the Bears a 5-0 lead.
 
UAPB plated a pair of runs in the top of the sixth on a Harwrick homer to left field for the 5-2 finale.
 
In the top of the seventh innings, the Lady Lions loads the bases with one out, but the Bears where able to turn a double-play to end the UAPB rally.