ST. LOUIS – Missouri State softball’s Olivia Krehbiel has earned MVC Player of the Week for the first time in her career for her performance against Belmont last weekend, the league announced today.
Krehbiel continued swinging a hot bat as she helped lead MSU to its sixth consecutive MVC series win, five of which have been sweeps. She batted .500 (4-for-8) on the weekend with all of her hits going for extra bases (three home runs and a double), while scoring five runs, collecting seven RBI, drawing two walks and getting hit by a pitch.
She slugged 1.750, owned a .636 on-base percentage, went 2-for-2 on stolen base attempts and was perfect in the field across the three-game series.
In the first game of the series, the senior went 1-for-3 with a solo homer, an RBI and a run scored. In game two, Krehbiel exploded offensively, going 2-for-3 with two home runs (three-run and two-run shots), five RBI, two runs scored and a hit by pitch. In the series finale, she went 1-for-2 with an RBI double, two runs scored, two walks and a couple of stolen bases.
With three homers on the weekend, Krehbiel moved into a tie for second place all-time in MSU history with 22 career home runs and her seven RBI made it 100 career runs driven in, which is tied for fourth in MSU softball history. Last Saturday’s game also marked the second time in Krehbiel’s career she has hit multiple homers in a single game.
She ranks inside the top 10 in the MVC in slugging percentage (.608), on-base percentage (.434), RBI (31), doubles (12), triples (3), total bases (73), walks (21) and stolen bases (13).
The honor marks MSU’s third weekly award of the season with McKenzie Vaughan having earned both player and pitcher of the week earlier this season.
Missouri State plays its final home game of the season tomorrow (April 26) as the Bears welcome Southern Illinois to Killian Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. MSU is 14-0 so far at home this season and the Bears are winners in 19 of their last 20 games.
Tomorrow is also The Bears Fund Appreciation Day at the ballpark, which offers fans free pizza and soda while supplies last, and admission is free.
