The Valparaiso University softball team came up one game short of a series sweep on Sunday in Springfield, Mo., as Missouri State took the series finale from the Crusaders, 6-2.

How It Happened

• Valpo sent the minimum to the plate in each of the first three innings, while Missouri State took the lead for good in the bottom of the second, as runs scored on a passed ball and a fielder’s choice.
• The Crusaders cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth, as junior Jaymee Lawton (Goodyear, Ariz./Desert Edge [Utah Valley]) launched an 0-2 pitch over the left-field fence for a solo homer.
• The Bears responded in their half of the fourth with a two-run homer from Kelly Metter.
• Valpo brought the potential tying run to the plate in the top of the fifth, but was unable to plate any runs.
• The Crusaders found the scoreboard again in the sixth inning. Fifth-year senior Taylor Lawson (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) and Lawton led off the frame with back-to-back singles, and a grounder from junior Carly Trepanier (Manteno, Ill./Manteno) was enough to score Lawson and make it a 4-2 game. But despite having Lawton on third with only one out, Valpo was unable to cut any further into the deficit.
• Missouri State capped the scoring with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Inside the Game

• Lawton’s home run was her ninth of the season, already tied for seventh-most in a single season in program history. With 14 career round-trippers, she moves into a tie for 10th on Valpo’s career chart with current graduate assistant Tarah McShane.
• Lawton went 2-for-3 on Sunday, capping a weekend where she went 4-for-8 with a pair of walks and a sacrifice fly.
• Freshman Brittany Anderson (East Chicago, Ind./Bishop Noll) made just her second start of the year and her first appearance in MVC play, going 1-for-3 in her start at DP.
• Senior Kenzie Grossmann (Perry, Mo./Mark Twain [Morehead State]) took the loss in the circle, surrendering two runs – one earned – in 2.1 innings in the starting assignment.
• Sophomore Emily Richardson (Oak Park, Ill./River Forest) entered in relief in the third and got a first-pitch double play to get the Crusaders out of a jam with no runs scoring. Richardson has now inherited 16 runners in relief appearances this year and only allowed two to score.
• The loss was the Crusaders’ first of the season when holding its opponent to five or fewer hits (6-1).

Next Up

Valpo (14-12, 2-4 MVC) is slated to travel to Central Michigan for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. CT. Live stats for both games will be available.