Krehbiel, Vaughan Earn NFCA All-Region Nods

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Missouri State softball’s Olivia Krehbiel and McKenzie Vaughan were selected to the NFCA All-Region Team, the organization announced today. MSU’s tandem was named to the third team and they were two of seven players to represent the Missouri Valley Conference on the NFCA Midwest All-Region teams.
 
Krehbiel becomes a two-time all-region selection after previously being named to the second team in 2021, while Vaughan gets the nod for the first time in her career.
 
A senior out of Lee’s Summit, Mo., Krehbiel was Missouri State’s second-leading hitter this season with a .315 average. She led the Bears with 45 hits, 12 doubles, three triples, 34 RBI, and 26 walks. The third baseman also collected six home runs and 14 stolen bases, while owning a .566 slugging and .424 on-base percentage.
 
Following the 2023 season, Krehbiel ranks second all-time in MSU history with 23 home runs. Earlier this season, she became just the third Bear in program history to hit at least three career grand slams as she logged a career-high six RBI against South Dakota State. She continues to climb her way up the Missouri State softball record book as she is fourth or tied for fourth in career RBI (103), doubles (36) and walks (78).
 
Her other honors this postseason include being named to the All-MVC second team, the MVC Scholar-Athlete first team and the CSC Academic All-District Team.
 
A dual-threat sophomore, Vaughan earns all-region honors at the Utility/Pitcher position. She led the Bears this season with a .318 average and 14 home runs, which set the MSU single-season home run record. Vaughan also set the single-season record for slugging percentage at .748 and is already tied for seventh in program history with 19 career home runs in just 67 games played. In 2023, she also logged a 17-game hit streak, which tied for the third longest streak in MSU softball history.
 
The slugger out of Bella Vista, Ark., was also one of MSU’s top pitchers on the year, making 30 appearances in the circle. Vaughan owned a 4.04 earned run average and tallied 68 strikeouts in 85.2 innings of work. She was the only player in the Missouri Valley Conference to earn both Player and Pitcher of the Week honors in 2023.
 
Vaughan’s other awards this postseason include being named to the All-MVC first team, the MVC Scholar-Athlete first team and the CSC Academic All-District Team.
 
The Bears finished the season with a 31-20 overall record, a 21-6 record in conference action and placed second in the MVC regular season standings.