Bears Softball Takes Down SDSU in 8-6 Battle

CONWAY, Ark. – Missouri State softball (4-8)l defeated South Dakota State (9-5) in a hard-fought battle to close out its weekend at the Michelle Short Memorial Collegiate Classic hosted by Central Arkansas.
 
The Bears were led offensively by Olivia Krehbiel, as she knocked a double and a grand slam and collected six RBI. The grand slam marked the third of Krehbiel’s career, making her just the third Bear in program history to accomplish the feat in their careers. Freshman Abby Ford added three hits and scored two runs, while Kenzie Derryberry collected a hit, two walks and an RBI, while making multiple impressive plays defensively.
 
In the circle, Gracie Johnston picked up her second win of the season in 4.0 innings pitched. She allowed just two earned runs and struck out two Jackrabbits.
 
Missouri State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Tess Weakly doubled to right center to score Krehbiel. SDSU responded with a single run in the bottom half of the first after drawing a bases-loaded walk to make it a 1-1 game after one.
 
The Bears kept things going offensively in the second inning, scoring three runs on four hits. Following a leadoff single and a walk to begin the inning courtesy of Kelsie Lewis and McKayla Carney, MSU put three runs on the scoreboard with Derryberry single to center field that scored one and a Krehbiel two-RBI double to left center field.
 
MSU forced SDSU to strand two runners on base in both the second and third innings to hold a 4-1 lead with three innings in the books.
 
After a couple of quiet innings at the plate, South Dakota State mounted a comeback after posting four runs on six total hits in the fourth and fifth innings to lead 5-4 after five innings.
 
Despite being down after three scoreless innings, the Bears didn’t back down. Carney worked a walk to lead off the sixth, followed by a Ford bunt single to third base to put runners on first and second with no outs. After Ford swiped second, Derryberry drew a walk to load the bases with Krehbiel up to bat.
 
Krehbiel delivered in a huge way, sending a ball over the fence in left center field for a grand slam, giving MSU the lead back at 8-5.
 
Johnston worked out of a jam in the home half of the sixth as SDSU had runners on first and third with one out, but the Jackrabbits popped up twice to second base to end the inning.
 
After a quiet top of the seventh for the Bears, they were just three outs away from the victory. South Dakota State made things interesting for a moment as the Jackrabbits led off the seventh with a solo homer to left center field, but Johnston and Co. retired the next three batters in order to secure the 8-6 victory.
 
Missouri State and Mississippi Valley State did not play their game tonight. More details will be made available at a later time.
 
The Bears will be back in action next week at the Ole Miss Classic in Oxford, Miss. Missouri State begin the tournament Friday, March 3 with matchups against SEMO at 10:30 a.m. and Ole Miss at 3:30 p.m. CT.