• Murray State CC gets the 2-1 win on two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth
• Sophomore Elle Nelsen drives in the lone DMACC run
• All three runs scored in the game were unearned

Murray State Community College (MSCC) scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a throwing error to take a 2-1 decision from the DMACC softball team in a consolation bracket game May 23 at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Softball World Series at Tyger River Park in Spartanburg, S.C.

The loss ended the season for the Bears who closed at 47-11.

Haili Igou started MSCC's winning rally with a leadoff double to left field against DMACC sophomore Kinsley Robertson of Tiffin. Robertson then struck out Bradi Harman and coaxed Shay Midgley into a ground out to the right side with Igou taking third on the play. Courtney Grey followed with a base on balls and stole second to set the stage for the win which came when Bella Butler sent a grounder to freshman Hilary Wilson of Swisher at shortstop and Wilson's throw to first was off the mark, allowing Igou and Grey to score.

Harman, the winning pitcher, gave the Bears life in the top of the seventh when she walked freshman Breanna Caffery of Bettendorf to open the inning but the next three batters were retired in order to preserve the victory.

DMACC took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the top of the first. Caffery reached on an error to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Kelsey Palmer of Cedar Rapids. Sophomore Elle Nelsen of Grimes followed with a single down the left field line that was deep enough to enable Caffery to score from second.

The Bears threatened to make it a 2-0 game in the second when sophomore Campbell Kelley of Rock Island, Ill., singled and beat the throw to second on a fielder's choice by freshman Josie McCuddin of Truro. Campbell and McCuddin advanced on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Kyleia Salyars of Muscatine before Campbell was thrown out at home on a grounder to third by sophomore Hannah Ironside of Swisher.

DMACC also threatened in the third when Palmer reached on an error to open the inning and moved to third on Nelsen's single. Nelsen went to second on the throw to third, giving the Bears runners in scoring position with no outs. But MSCC escaped when the next three batters were retired on a foul out, a fly out and an infield grounder.

The Bears had runners on base in every inning the rest of the way but no one advanced past second base and DMACC ended up stranding nine runners in the game.

The Bears came away with just four hits, two from Nelsen.

Freshman Macy Blomgren of Waukee started in the circle for DMACC and went five innings. She allowed four hits, struck out six and walked one. Robertson fell to 12-4 with the loss. She allowed two unearned runs on one hit with one strikeout and one walk.