SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri State starter Erin Struemph held Bradley to three hits in a complete game shutout as the Bears took the series opener from the Braves 5-0 Friday night.

Struemph allowed just one Bradley base runner in the first three and one-third innings and didn't allow a hit until sophomore Erika Hansen (Fillmore, Calif./Moorpark) had a one-out single in the top of the fourth.  Senior Rachel Huggins (Mt. Zion, Ill./Mt. Zion) added a two-out single of her own later in the inning, but the Braves left two runners on base. 

Bradley threatened again in the top of the seventh after senior Alyson Clemente (Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta Valley) was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame.  Sophomore Maria Schroeder (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) had a one-out single and the Braves loaded the bases when junior Caitlyn McCarron (Dallas, Ore./Dallas) drew an 11-pitch walk.  Struemph got out of the jam, however, getting a groundout to close out the complete game shutout.

Missouri State got the only run it would need for the win on three consecutive two-out singles in the bottom of the second.  Elena Gambill and Darian Frost each had two-out singles and Hailee Vigneaux gave the Bears a 1-0 lead with a RBI single up the middle. 

Mary Stephens added a RBI double in the bottom of the third to push the Missouri State lead to 2-0 and the Bears came up with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Vigneaux had a two-out single in the fourth and Hannah Heinrichs followed with an infield single of her own.  Madison Jones plated Vigneaux with a single through the right side and Heinrichs scored on a double steal to give Missouri State a 4-0 advantage. 

A Bradley error in the sixth helped lead to another Missouri State run.  Frost walked to open the inning and a Heinrichs single and Molly Fields walk loaded the bases.  The only error of the game for the Braves allowed pinch runner Kyana Mason to score as the Bears extended the lead to 5-0. 

Struemph struck out six and walked just one in the complete game, three-hit shutout for Missouri State.  Junior Jaelen Hull (Clifton, Ill./Bishop McNamara) took the loss for the Braves as she fanned five Bears and walked two in her fifth complete game effort of the year. 

Bradley and Missouri State were originally scheduled to play a noon doubleheader Friday, but poor field conditions after an overnight issue with the irrigation system at Killian Stadium forced the teams to play a single game at Meador Park.  The Braves and Bears will close out the series Saturday with an 11 a.m. doubleheader.