PEORIA, Ill. – Shaye Barton was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBI, the heart of the Sycamore lineup continued to pound the ball and Indiana State eliminated Missouri State in a 10-8 win in the second round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Thursday.
 
For the Sycamores (19-34), eight of the 10 runs were driven in by the 3-4-5 batters with Barton once again leading the way. Amanda Guercio’s 2-for-3 performance helped drive in two runs while Bella Peterson registered her third double of the tournament as she went 2-for-4 with three RBI.
 
More than just the heart of the lineup, Leslie Sims continued to produce in the leadoff spot with a 3-for-5 outing as she scored two runs to set a new school record for career runs scored (109 runs scored), breaking the old record of 107 set by Megan Stone.
 
And Indiana State continued to succeed with a flair for the dramatic, allowing three first inning runs by Missouri State (30-21) before scoring seven unanswered. For the second straight day, the Sycamores used a big inning to buoy their chances of advancing. This time, it was a five-run third inning while adding two more in the fourth and another three in the sixth to push ISU out to a 10-4 lead.
 
The Bears threatened in the bottom of the seventh as a grand slam by Kelly Metter drew the Bears within two. But Abbey Kruzel, who pitched the final two innings in relief for the Sycamores, struck out Darby Joerling for the final out to secure the 10-8 win.
 
Arielle Blankenship (7-10) was credited with the win after allowing one unearned run on three hits in 4.0 innings.
 
Steffany Dickerson (20-11) was charged with the loss after allowing five runs on six hits in 3.2 non-consecutive innings while striking out four. Metter’s grand slam drove in four runs to lead the Bears while, despite scoring eight runs, Rachel Weber was the only Missouri State player to register multiple hits (2-for-4). By contrast, Indiana State had four players with multiple hits in the game.