PEORIA, Ill. -- Missouri State's Natalie Rose struck out nine Bradley hitters and held BU to just one run as the Braves opened a season-long, seven-game homestand with a 10-1 loss to the Bears Saturday afternoon at Laura Bradley Park.  The two teams will close out the series Sunday with an 11 a.m. doubleheader.

Bradley (8-32 overall, 1-11 MVC) collected nine hits and turned three double plays in the game, but the Braves left eight runners on base and committed four errors in the loss.

Missouri State (18-17 overall, 6-6 MVC) scored three runs in the top of the first inning to jump out to an early lead.  Jenna Schwark drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single up the middle and Ashley Knehans followed with a two-run homer over the foul pole in left field to put MSU in front 3-0.

Bradley got a run back in the bottom half of the inning.  Junior Julie Sherman (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) singled and stole second to lead off the inning.  Senior Brittany Fairbairn (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East/Kankakee C.C.) had a one-out single and Sherman scored on a double steal to cut the Bears lead to 3-1.

The Braves turned the first of their three double plays in the second, but Missouri State struck for three more runs in the top of the third.   Kirstin Cutter stole home on a double steal and Tyler Porter scored on a single off the bat of Lauren Eisenreich.  The Bears took a 6-1 lead when Schwark beat a throw home on a fielder's choice.

Missouri State loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, but BU's second double play of the game helped the Braves get out of the inning unscathed.  The Bears added four runs on just two hits in the top of the seventh, however, to put the game out of reach.

Pinch hitter Savannah Wiggins drove in a run when she reached on the first of three Bradley errors in the inning and Christa Gammon knocked in another run when she reached on an error.  Missouri State added two more runs on a BU throwing error on a steal attempt to push the advantage to 10-1.

Bradley loaded the bases with just one out in the bottom of the seventh, but the Bears threw a runner out at the plate for the second out of the inning and Rose retired the next batter she faced to close out the complete game victory.

Sophomore Mackenzie Camp (Mapleton, Ill./Limestone) took the loss in the circle for Bradley to drop to 3-12 on the year.  Freshman Brianne Joseph (Post Falls, Idaho/Post Falls) went 3-for-3 at the plate and was one three Braves with multiple hits. 

Rose struck out nine and walked none, while surrendering just one run in the complete game win for Missouri State to improve to 13-14 on the season.

The teams close out the series Sunday with an 11 a.m. doubleheader at Laura Bradley Park.  Following Sunday's games the Braves will host a clinic for children eighth grade and younger.  The 75-minute clinic costs $15 with proceeds going toward the purchase of a new wheelchair for Bradley softball fan Julie Prill, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of two.  Please contact assistant coach Jennie Shollenberger at (309) 339-5794 for more information about Sunday's clinic.