SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball (11-28, 7-11 MVC) dominated Valparaiso (8-30, 2-13 MVC) with a 10-0 run-rule victory to open the series here Friday night in Springfield.
The star of the night was senior third baseman Olivia Krehbiel, who knocked her 28th career home run to break the Missouri State career home run record. Her three-run shot in the second inning surpassed Jessie Smith’s (2006-09) previous top mark of 27 career long balls. Krehbiel didn’t stop there as she launched another three-run homer in the fourth inning to cap a 3-for-3 day at the plate with six RBI and three runs scored.
It was all Missouri State in this one as the Bears exploded offensively and held the Beacons to just one hit on the night. After a 1-2-3 inning on defense to start the game, MSU pushed a run across in the first on a sacrifice fly from Kayla Ulrich to take the early lead.
Valparaiso’s lone hit of the game came in the second with a ground ball deep to second base that Kelsie Lewis saved from reaching the outfield grass. But back-to-back fly outs ended the inning for Valpo.
The Bears broke things open in the bottom of the second with five runs in the frame. Alexis Perales swung at the first pitch of the inning and sent a single to left center field, before Lewis roped a ball down the left field line for a double. A sacrifice fly scored MSU’s second run of the game and first of the inning. Then, Emily Chadwick collected an RBI with a single to right field and Chloe Merced got in on the action with a single to center field. With runners on first and second, that’s when Krehbiel made history, sending a no-doubter over the fence in center field to push the MSU lead to 6-0.
Defensively, Gracie Johnston and Co. continued to cruise through the Beacon lineup, allowing just a single baserunner via a walk across the third and fourth innings. Missouri State’s offense struck again with a four-run fourth inning.
Kenzie Derryberry, Chadwick and Merced led off the fourth with back-to-back-to-back singles and Derryberry scored on a Valparaiso error. It was déjà vu as Krehbiel came to the plate yet again with two runners on, and the result was the same as she smacked a three-run homer to left center field and put the Bears in front, 10-0. A three-up, three-down top of the fifth secured the 10-0 run-rule victory for the Bears to open the series.
Johnston tossed a gem in the circle, collecting the complete game shutout victory. On her senior day, she allowed just one hit and struck out four Beacons.
Offensively, Krehbiel led the way with her three-hit, six-RBI day at the plate. Chadwick and Merced each went 2-for-2 with two runs scored while Chadwick added an RBI. Derryberry also turned in a 1-for-1 day that included an RBI and a run scored.
The Bears and Beacons face off again tomorrow (April 20) in game two of the series in Springfield. First pitch at Killian Stadium is set for 2 p.m. and the game will stream on ESPN+.
