WICHITA, Kan. – Missouri State softball (9-11) split day one at the Shocker Classic, falling to Nebraska 10-2 in five innings before bouncing back with a 2-1 victory over No. 23 Wichita State here Saturday.
 
MSU's win over Wichita State marked the third consecutive season that the Bears have defeated a top-25 opponent.
 
Offensively, Olivia Krehbiel led the way for the Bears on the day, going 3-for-6 with a double, an RBI, a walk and two stolen bases. Ellie McCoy also logged two hits, one of which was a double, and drew a walk across both games.
 
In the circle, Gracie Johnston (4-3) turned in a stellar performance against No. 23 Wichita State (18-5). The senior earned the complete-game victory, as she allowed just one run (zero earned runs) and scattered eight hits while striking out five Shockers.
 
 
Game 1 (5 Inn.): Nebraska 10, Missouri State 2
In Missouri State's first game of the Shocker Classic, the Bears hopped on the board first against Big 10 opponent Nebraska (15-7). Freshman Abby Ford reached on a throwing error by the Nebraska third baseman to begin the game, followed by Kenzie Derryberry and Krehbiel walks to load the bases with no outs .Tess Weakly delivered a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat to get MSU on the board first. However, Nebraska was able to limit the damage as they forced an MSU fly out and caught Derryberry trying to score from third to end the inning.
 
The Cornhuskers answered quickly in the bottom of the first, putting up a five-spot courtesy of three hits, two walks and a MSU error. Following a 1-2-3 inning for the Bears in the top of the second, Nebraska hit a solo homer to center field to extend the lead to 6-1 after two innings.
 
Missouri State managed to get a baserunner on via walk in the third, but that was all for either team in the inning. In the top of the fourth, Krehbiel reached courtesy of a fielding error by the right fielder and advanced to second before Weakly grounded out, advancing Krehbiel to third. Unfortunately, the Bears were not able to push a run across.
 
Nebraska struck again in the home half of the fourth with three runs on four hits and a walk to carry a 9-1 lead over the Bears into the fifth.
 
The Bears' Kelsie Lewis was hit by a pitch to lead off the fifth, followed by a McCoy double to right field to put runners on second and third with no outs. With one out, Lewis scored and McCoy advanced to third on a wild pitch to help Missouri State extend the game.
 
However, the Cornhuskers sent a sacrifice fly to left field in the bottom of the fifth to secure a 10-2 run-rule victory over the Bears.
 
McCoy had MSU's lone hit of game one, while Weakly logged an RBI. MSU's offense stole three bases and drew four walks in the game.
 
 
Game 2: Missouri State 2, #23 Wichita State 1
Missouri State bounced back in a big way in game two against tournament host Wichita State.
 
In the bottom of the first inning, the Shockers threatened, putting runners on second and third with just one out. Following a strikeout looking and an intentional walk from MSU, Wichita State had the bases loaded with two outs, but the Bears worked their way out of the jam with a line out to second base.
 
After both squads mustered just one hit each in the second, Missouri State struck first in the third inning.
 
Ford drew a one-out walk to get things rolling for the Bears in the third, followed by a Derryberry sacrifice bunt to move Ford into scoring position with two outs. Missouri State put together quality at-bats in the two-out rally as Krehbiel singled to the pitcher and then stole second base to give MSU runners on second and third. MSU's Weakly and McKenzie Vaughan then drew walks in the following at-bats, with Vaughan's bases-loaded walk putting the first run on the board to give MSU the 1-0 lead.
 
Following a quiet fourth inning on both sides, Missouri State tacked on a much-needed second run in the top of the fifth. Derryberry was hit by a pitch to begin the inning before advancing to second on a wild pitch as MSU once again had a runner in scoring position, this time with no outs. Krehbiel answered with what would be the game-winning RBI-double to right field, scoring Derryberry to extend MSU's lead to 2-0 with four-and-a-half innings in the books.
 
Wichita State collected three singles across the fifth and sixth innings, but the Bears kept the Shocker offense off the board, holding a 2-0 advantage heading to the bottom of the seventh.
 
MSU got two quick outs to start the home half of the seventh, but the Shockers made things interesting with a couple of singles and a Missouri State error leading to a run for WSU. However, Johnston dug deep in the circle with the tying run standing on third and forced a fly out to end the game, securing a 2-1 victory for the Bears in the nightcap.
 
The victory marked Johnston's fourth win of the season, while Krehbiel went 3-for-4 at the plate against the Shockers.
 
Missouri State closes out the Shocker Classic tomorrow (March 12) with rematches against both Nebraska and Wichita State. The Bears are set to face the Cornhuskers at 12 p.m., followed immediately by game two against the Shockers at 2:30 p.m. MSU's matchup with Wichita State will stream on ESPN+.