NORMAN, Okla. – Senior hurler Holly Kelly tossed a no-hit shutout that allowed the Missouri State softball team (10-8) to run-rule Abilene Christian, 8-0 in six innings, Sunday morning at Marita Hynes Field.
 
The second no-hitter of her MSU career, Kelley was masterful through six frames as she collected five strikeouts against 19 batters. The right-hander allowed just two base runners, off a walk and fielding error, while the Bears blasted 11 hits off of the ACU pitching staff.
 
With one out in the opening inning, Hailee Vigneaux recorded her first of four hits on a one-out single into left field. She stole her sixth base of the season and moved into scoring position, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. After senior Kaitlin Beason drew a walk, she took off for second and baited a throw from the ACU catcher. Anticipating the play, Vigneaux took off for home and slid in safely to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.
 
MSU held the Wildcats scoreless in the bottom of the first and second, then unleashed a barrage of hits in the start of the third. Velasquez Zimmer sent a leadoff double into right-center field and traded places with Hailee Vigneaux after she singled up the middle. Plummer followed up with an RBI single up the middle to extend MSU's lead 3-0.
 
The Bears kept up the momentum and put two runners on after Darian Frost drew a walk. Following the free base, freshman Kelly Metter laced a double down the left-field line and scored two Bears to make it a 5-0 ball game. Sophomore Hannah Heinrichs followed suit with a single up the middle to score Metter, giving the Bears a 6-0 advantage.
 
Kelley shut down the Wildcats in the fourth and fifth, posting back-to-back, 1-2-3 innings. MSU's final offensive surge came in the top of the sixth when senior Erika Velasquez Zimmer led off the frame with a single. Picking up her fourth hit of the day, Vigneaux laid down a textbook bunt and moved Velasquez Zimmer all the way to third. After Vigneaux stole second, freshman Daphne Plummer smoked an RBI groundout to the ACU second baseman that allowed Velasquez Zimmer to reach home safely.
 
The final blow came one at-bat later when Beason ripped a shot to the Wildcat at third. Unable to make a play on the ball, Vigneaux sprinted home safely and lifted MSU into run-rule territory with an 8-0 lead.
 
ACU tried to make a comeback in the bottom of the frame after a Wildcat reached base on a MSU fielding error, but Kelley stifled the spark with a strikeout and 5-4-3 ground double play.
 
In her third shutout of the season, Kelley improved to 4-2 and MSU picked up its 10^th win of the season. Vigneaux led the Bears with three steals and a perfect, 4-for-4 outing at the plate while Velasquez Zimmer and Metter both recorded doubles.
 
Coming Up Next
The team travels to Wichita, Kan., on Mar. 10-11 for the Shocker Softball Tournament. For all the latest information on the Missouri State softball team, visit missouristatebears.com or follow @MSUSoftball on Twitter.