SPRINGFIELD, Mo. ? Bradley sophomore outfielder Amanda Clack (Hillsboro, Mo./Hillsboro H.S.) collected four hits over the course of a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader, but Missouri State took advantage of a Bradley defensive miscue to win game one, 2-1, followed by an offensive outburst in game two for 12-4 win to sweep the doubleheader from the Braves Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Mo.

The Braves (11-14 overall, 3-8 MVC) managed just three hits in the opener, but found themselves in a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning. Clack hit her team-leading fifth home run of the season in the top of the third inning to force the tie, but the host Bears plated an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth for a 2-1 lead that would hold up as the final score. Jessie Smith reached third on a three-base error with one out and later scored on an infield single from Michelle Armentrout for the go-ahead run.

Clack hit a first inning single to go 2-for-3 in the first game. Junior Miriam Wegmann (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville H.S.) added her fourth double of the season as the rest of the BU lineup combined to go 0-for-17 in game one. Junior starting pitcher Ashley Birdsong (Otis, Ore./Taft H.S.) struck out six Bears over six innings, but took the loss to fall to 8-8 on the season. The junior hurler allowed only one earned run and walked three.

The BU offense found its stride in the fourth inning of game two, but not until Missouri State jumped out to a 10-0 lead. The Bears collected four hits in the second inning and took advantage of two Bradley errors for a 4-0 lead, then followed the frame with a six-run third inning to stretch the lead to 10-0. The Bears sent 19 batters to the plate in the two innings.

In the Bradley fourth, Clack started the inning with a double and later scored on an RBI single from Wegmann. Junior Alycia Bachkora (Overland Park, Kan./Notre Dame de Sion) added a base hit and later scored on a three-run home run from sophomore Lauren Meister (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South H.S.). The round-tripper was the first of the season for Meister and trimmed the Missouri State lead to 10-4.

The Bears (18-11 overall, 7-6 MVC) plated two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run triple from Smith to take a 12-4 lead and put the eight-run rule into place.

BU freshman starting pitcher Katie Dennis (Gilbert, Ariz./Mesquite H.S.) was unable to get out of the second inning, allowing six runs on seven hits. Clack and senior Rebecca Bishop (Carmichael, Calif./Del Campo H.S.) combined to toss 3.1 innings in relief, allowing six runs on seven hits.

After a 9-4 start, the Braves have dropped 10 of their last 12 games and have lost four MVC games in a row. The Braves and Bears will conclude the three-game MVC series Sunday with a single contest in Springfield at noon.