TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Missouri State closed out the Easton Bama Bash here Sunday with a 7-0 loss to No. 24-ranked Minnesota at Rhoads Stadium.

Coming off an energetic performance on Saturday where the Bears defeated ULM and then battled No. 6 Alabama to the wire in a 7-5 game, Missouri State (8-7) wasn’t able to get its offense going Sunday against a juggernaut Minnesota pitching staff.

Coach Holly Hesse’s squad managed just two hits on the afternoon — a leadoff single by Madison Hunsaker in the second and a one-out single by Hope Hamilton in the sixth. But the Bears were unable to move a runner into scoring position at any point, while Minnesota’s pitchers kept the MSU offense off balance to the tune of 15 strikeouts.

Amber Fiser (4-4) took the win for Minnesota, as she struck out 10 in five innings of work with no walks and just one hit. She was relieved by Rachel Lowary who struck out five in two innings of relief.

Minnesota scored five runs off MSU starter Erin Griesbauer in the bottom of the third to break up a scoreless deadlock. A one-out single by MaKenna Partain started the rally and brought Allie Arneson around to score. Hope Brandner then smacked a two-run double to right to make it 3-0. Natalie DenHartog followed with a two-out triple to left to bring Brandner around. DenHartog later stole home to make it a 5-0 game.

In the fifth, Brandner made it a 6-0 game with a one-out double. She later scored on an infield hit by Katelyn Kemetmueller for the game’s final run.

Missouri State used four different pitchers in the contest. Bailey Greenlee struck out three in 1.2 innings of relief, while Madison Hunsaker fanned two of the four batters she faced in the sixth.

The Bears will play five games next weekend at the UCA Invitational in Conway, Ark. Missouri State will square off with Louisiana Monroe, UAPB, Coppin State, Southeast Missouri and Central Arkansas, Thursday through Saturday.

Courtesy of: Missouri State Athletics Communications