PEORIA, Ill. ? Sophomore Ashley Birdsong struck out 12 in her fifth complete game shutout of the season in a 1-0 Bradley victory in the series opener against Missouri State, but the Bears scored three unearned runs in the nightcap and posted a 3-1 victory in the second game, as the two teams split a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Laura Bradley Park.

Birdsong powered the Braves (13-9 overall, 1-4 MVC) to victory in the opener, scattering five hits and one walk while fanning 12 batters in Bradley's 1-0 victory. She improved to 10-5 on the year with the victory and picked up her 10th career complete game shutout.

The only run in the game came in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman Amanda Clack had an infield single with one out and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Clack advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored the game's only run on a single up the middle by junior Stephanie Ramsey. The Braves collected four hits in the first two innings off Missouri State pitcher Melissa Porche but managed just one hit in the final four innings, a leadoff single in the sixth inning.

In the nightcap, Missouri State (13-17 overall, 2-5 MVC) scored three unearned runs in the top of the second inning and limited Bradley to three hits as the Bears won 3-1 to salvage a split of the shortened series.

Elysha Swider reached on an error to lead off the second inning for MSU and stole second base. A wild pitch and walk put runners on the corners with no outs. Lacie Ballard stole second base and Swider was thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice that gave the Bears runners at first and third with one out. Bradley pitcher Amanda Clack struck out Porche for the second out of the inning with runners at second and third but a second BU error in the inning allowed Ballard to score the first run of the game. The Bears scored another run on a double steal and a Carrie Roberson single drove in the third unearned run of the frame, as Missouri State took a 3-0 lead.

Bradley got one run back in the bottom half of the inning when junior Jessie Musgrove led off the inning with a solo homer to left field. Porche settled down following the Musgrove homer, allowing one hit and two hit batters in her final five innings of work as she improved to 9-10 on the season.

Clack (2-2) suffered the loss for Bradley, giving up one hit, three unearned runs and two walks, while striking out three in three innings of work. Birdsong pitched the final four innings in relief, striking out six and walking one. She passed Cristin Evans for fifth on Bradley's career strikeout list and is just the fifth player in program history to record 300 career strikeouts.

Bradley returns to action Wednesday when the Braves play host to Butler in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Laura Bradley Park.