Missouri State third baseman Michelle Armentrout smashed a grand slam to lead the second-seeded Missouri State softball team to a 4-0 victory over sixth-seeded Creighton Thursday night in the Bears' first round game of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Missouri State is now 38-15 on the season and with the 38th victory, the Bears squad tied the MSU record for wins in a single season.

Bears' starter Shannon Buslepp pitched a complete-game shutout for the win, allowing just five hits and striking out seven. Buslepp's seven strikeouts ties her season high, which came in her complete-game shutout against then seventh-ranked and now fourth-ranked Alabama. With the win, the Bears advance to play regular-season champion Illinois State Friday at 4 p.m.

Creighton hurler Stephanie Cortese didn't allow a hit until the fourth, when Valley Player of the Year Samantha Fleeman doubled to left center to lead off the Bears' half of the inning. Fleeman was sacrificed to third on a bunt by Jessica Smith, then Buslepp reached on a dropped strikeout. Melissa Porche was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Armentrout who blasted a shot to left center for a grand slam, giving the Bears a 4-0 advantage.

The home run was Armentrout's fourth of the season and second in her career in the MVC tournament, as the sophomore homered in the Bears' 6-4 win over top-seeded Southern Illinois in the 2005 tournament to send the Bears to the semifinals for the first time since 1998.

Junior Whitney Peyton reached base three times, going 2-for-2 with a walk, while three other Bears had three hits a piece.