WICHITA, Kan. – Senior hurler Holly Kelley led the Missouri State softball team (11-9) to a 5-0, one-hit shutout over Western Illinois, but the Bears suffered a 3-1 setback to Wichita State, Saturday afternoon at C. Howard Wilkins Stadium.
 
Missouri State 5, Western Illinois 0
Kelley (5-2) was masterful through seven full innings once again and limited the Leathernecks to just one hit in the shutout. The Bear offense racked up 10 hits against Western Illinois, including a two-run home run from sophomore Hannah Heinrichs.
 
After a hitless first inning for both teams, senior Kaitlin Beason stepped up and singled through the left side for the first hit of the game. Fellow senior Sara Jones came in to pinch run for Beason and immediately stole second, but MSU was unable to bring her home. 
 
The MSU defense set down the Leathernecks in order to close out the third and carried that momentum over into the top of the fourth. Beason, who has reached base in now four consecutive games, drew a leadoff walk to start the inning and was moved into scoring position after Darian Frost singled up the middle.
 
With two runners on, Heinrichs laid down a textbook sacrifice bunt and moved the pair into scoring position. With just one out, starting catcher Morgan Greenlee lifted a single to left-center field and brought around two runs to give MSU a 2-0 advantage.
 
Totaling 10 strikeouts on the day, Kelley struck out the side to end the fourth and used a strikeout, groundout and fly ball to escape the fifth inning unscathed.
 
After Frost led off the top of the sixth with her second single of the day, Heinrichs belted her first home run of the season on a two-run shot over the right-field wall. The third home run of her career, Heinrichs' extra-base blast gave MSU a comfortable 4-0 lead.
 
Adding the final blow, Darby Joerling stepped in to pinch hit for Velasquez Zimmer in the top of the seventh and launched a double in to right-center field. After Velasquez Zimmer re-entered at second, Hailee Vigneaux ripped a single down the right-field line to plate MSU's final run of the game.
 
Western Illinois only hit came on two outs in the bottom of the seventh on a ball that fell between Vigneaux and Plummer in shallow left field.
 
Senior Allie Alvstad was the other Bear to record a hit in the contest. Vigneaux and Frost led the Bears with two hits apiece while Heinrichs and Greenlee each recorded two RBI. Kelley allowed just three runners in her third shutout of the season.
 
Wichita State 3, Missouri State 1
Facing Wichita State for the first time since the Shockers' exit from the Missouri valley Conference, MSU went to freshman Steffany Dickerson for her seventh start in the circle. The righty kept the Shockers off the board in the top of the first, but Wichita State used a two-run home run in the bottom of the second to take an early 2-0 lead.
 
The Shockers' Caitlin Bingham was plunked by a pitch to earn a free base and was followed by a two-run homer to right field by Madison Perrigan.
 
Extending her hitting streak to now four games, Heinrichs broke up what would have been a Bailey Lange no-hitter in the top of the fifth on a two-out triple to right-center field. However, the Bears were unable to bring her in as a strikeout ended the charge.
 
After Dickerson hit her third batter of the game, sophomore Erin Griesbauer entered the circle in relief in the bottom of the fourth and held off the Shockers until the bottom of the sixth. WSU pushed its lead 3-0 after registering back-to-back hits and a fielder's choice.
 
Beginning the Bears' last chance to score, Vigneaux got the MSU offense rolling when she singled on a soft slap to the WSU catcher. Daphne Plummer followed up with a single through the left side and a Shocker effort at second juiced the bases for Frost. With no outs, she ripped an RBI single into left field and scored Vigneaux to cut into WSU's lead, 3-1. 
 
Frost single was the last hit in MSU's comeback and the Bears fell to 11-9 on the season. MSU combined for four hits against Lang and forced one WSU error. Dickerson, 3-3, was handed the loss after throwing three innings.
 
Coming Up Next
The Bears return to C. Howard Wilkins Stadium to face Western Illinois tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. and will close out the tournament at 4 p.m. against the Shockers. Live stats, as well as live updates, will be available for the games. For all the latest information on the Missouri State softball team, visit missouristatebears.com or follow @MSUSoftball on Twitter.