Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Stats
 
NORMAN, Okla. – The Missouri State softball team split on day two of the Courtyard Marriott Tournament with a 3-1 win over Abilene Christian and 9-0 setback to the No. 4 ranked Oklahoma Sooners, Saturday at Marita Hynes Field.  
 
Missouri State 3, Abilene Christian 1
MSU improved to 9-7 on the season thanks to a 3-1, come-from-behind victory to start the day. Meeting for the just second time in its series history, the Bears used a massive home run from junior Darian Frost to overcome an early 1-0 deficit.
 
After drawing a leadoff walk to start the game, the Wildcats put two runners in scoring position early with just one out. Freshman Kelly Metter was able to field a ground out easily at third, but a Wildcat advanced home on the throw to give ACU a 1-0 advantage.
 
The Wildcats threatened again later in the top of the third after two walks and a two-out double juiced the bases. Showing nerves of steel, starting pitcher Steffany Dickerson (3-2) registered her fourth strikeout of the game to get out of the bases-loaded jam.
 
After a scoreless third inning, Daphne Plummer reached first on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the fourth and Kaitlin Beason was plunked by a pitch to move her over into scoring position. MSU took a 3-1 lead in the next at-bat after Frost blasted a three-run homer over the right-center field fence. Her second homer of the season was all the Bears would need to secure the contest.
 
ACU tried to cut into the Bears' lead the next inning after an error, walk and a ground out moved two Wildcats into scoring position. With one out to go, Dickerson stepped up again and caught Brianna Barnhill swinging to squander the rally.
 
Throwing a complete seven innings, Dickerson fanned seven hitters and scattered five hits in the win. Plummer, Madison Jones and Erika Velasquez Zimmer each recorded singles and Frost led the crew with three RBI.
 
Oklahoma 9, Missouri State 0
While MSU left three runners on base, Hailee Vigneaux and Hannah Heinrichs were the two Bears that recorded hits against the Big 12 powerhouse.
 
Striking first, the Sooners began the game with a leadoff walk and Nicole Mendez immediately stole second. She advanced to third on a long fly ball, and then a single through the left side brought her in to give OU a 1-0 lead. Following a walk and single up the middle, a sacrifice fly off of starter Erin Griesbauer (2-1) brought in the Sooner on third and made it a 2-0 ball game.
 
Kaitlin Beason was the first Bear to reach base after OU starter Paige Parker struck her in the arm with a pitch in the top of the second. Sara Jones came in to run for Beason, and was moved over into scoring position after Vigneaux broke up the no-hitter with a single through the left side. However, a fly out to center field ended the inning and MSU stranded its two runners.
 
MSU starter Erin Griesbauer (2-1) produced a three up, three down inning in the bottom of the fame, but OU came storming back in the next inning with six runs on five hits and one error. After two singles and an error loaded the bases, a single from Caleigh Clifton scored the runner from third to make it 3-0, OU. A walk brought in the next run and then Kylie Lundberg placed an RBI single into center field to give the Sooners a 5-0 advantage. After a wild pitch allowed two runners to score, OU used a single into right-center to plate its final run of the inning.
 
Freshman reliever Madison Hunsaker stepped in to relieve Griesbauer in the circle and induced the final two outs of the inning to send MSU back to the dugout. However, the Bears bats were silent in the top of the fourth and the Sooners scored their ninth and final run on a sacrifice fly to make it a 9-0 ball game.
 
Heinrichs tried to spark a two-out rally in the fifth with a single through the left side, but the Bears were unable to respond and fell to the two-time defending national champions, 9-0, in five innings. Griesbauer was dealt the loss as the Bears fell to 9-8 on the season.
 
Coming Up Next
The squad closes out action at Marita Hynes Field tomorrow with a 10 a.m. contest against ACU. Live stats, as well as live updates, will be available for the game. For all the latest information on the Missouri State softball team, visit missouristatebears.com or follow @MSUSoftball on Twitter.