CONWAY, Ark. – Missouri State softball fell to 3-7 on the season following a 3-1 walk-off loss at Central Arkansas (8-2) to open the Michelle Short Memorial Collegiate Classic.
 
Following just one combined hit in the first two innings, the Bears had the first chance to strike after a Tess Weakly leadoff single to center field in the third inning. Kat Taylor replaced Weakly as a pinch runner and advanced to third following a ground out and sacrifice bunt, but the Bears left her stranded as the game remained scoreless.
 
Central Arkansas worked a walk in the bottom of the third, but that was all as the UCA Bears also came away empty-handed in the third frame.
 
Missouri State threatened again in the top of the fifth inning with a Mackenzie Chacon leadoff single through the right side. Chacon was lifted for pinch runner Ellie McCoy, who advanced to third after Alex Boze laid down a sacrifice bunt. Once again, the Bears came up empty, stranding runners on second and third base.
 
The Bears finally broke through to strike first in the pitcher's duel, following a Kenzie Derryberry triple to lead off the sixth inning and provide a spark for MSU. Derryberry was thrown out at third in the next at-bat on a passed ball, as Kelsie Lewis reached first on the dropped third strike. Olivia Krehbiel then came through in a big way for the Bears, knocking a double to right field, scoring Lewis all the way from first to give MSU a 1-0 lead in the middle of the sixth.
 
After a 1-2-3 inning defensively for MSU in the bottom of the sixth and only tallying a single hit in the top of the seventh offensively, Missouri State headed to the bottom of the seventh with a 1-0 advantage.
 
Unfortunately, the MSU lead would not hold as Central Arkansas worked two walks and with one out on the board, UCA's Josie Willingham sent a ball over the fence in left center field to walk it off and defeat MSU, 3-1.
 
Offensively, Missouri State was led by Weakly, who went 2-for-3 at the plate. Additionally, Krehbiel logged MSU's only RBI with a double, while Derryberry knocked a triple against UCA.
 
In the circle, Gracie Johnston led the way for the Bears, allowing just two hits in 6.1 innings of work. Johnston struck out four and walked three in the final-inning loss.