OXFORD, Miss. – Missouri State softball (7-10) split day two at the Ole Miss Classic in Oxford, Miss. The Bears started the day with a 4-2 extra-inning victory over Mount St. Mary's (2-5), before falling 8-0 in five innings to SEC opponent and tournament host Ole Miss (12-6).
 
Olivia Krebhiel led the way for the Bears offensively on the day with two hits, both of which were doubles. Tess Weakly's one hit on the day was a big one as she launched a two-run home run to walk it off for the Bears against Mount St. Mary's.
 
In the circle, McKenzie Vaughan tossed 7.2 innings, allowing no earned runs and striking out 10 in game one. Gracie Johnston earned MSU's victory on the day after coming on in relief in the extra-inning win over the Mountaineers.
 
 
Game 1 (9 innings): Missouri State 4, Mount St. Mary's 2
Missouri State kicked off the day with an extra-inning pitcher's duel against Mount St. Mary's. Through the first seven innings of the matchup, neither team was able to push a run across as MSU was also held without a hit through seven. Meanwhile, Mount St. Mary's had just four hits through the first seven, as MSU's defense forced the Mountaineers to strand six runners.
 
In the top of the eighth, the international tiebreaker rules went into effect as a runner was placed at second to begin the inning. With two outs, Mount St. Mary's got on the board after and MSU fielding error led to a run to give the Mountaineers a 1-0 advantage heading into the home half of the eighth.
 
Missouri State answered immediately with a leadoff single up the middle off the bat of Mackenzie Chacon to knot things at a run apiece. From there, the Bears were retired in order to send the game to the ninth inning.
 
The Mountaineers once again put the pressure on the Bears, utilizing back-to-back sacrifice bunts to score the runner placed on second and take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth.
 
The Bears used a Kenzie Derryberry sacrifice bunt to move Ellie McCoy over to third with just one out, setting up Olivia Krehbiel who delivered an RBI-double to left field to tie things once again. Tess Weakly then strolled to the plate with one out and a runner on second, and delivered the final blow with a two-run bomb to center field to walk it off for the Bears, 4-2.
 
In the circle, McKenzie Vaughan tossed 7.2 innings, giving up no earned runs and just four hits, while striking out 10 Mountaineers. On in relief, Gracie Johnston earned her third victory of the season after logging 1.1 innings and allowing no hits or earned runs.
 
 
Game 2 (5 innings): Ole Miss 8, Missouri State 0
In game two on the day against host Ole Miss, the Bears struggled to get things going offensively as they were held to just two hits in the game.
 
Both Missouri State and Ole Miss left two runners on base across the first two innings, leading to a 0-0 tie heading into the third frame. MSU got a single runner on in the top of the third before Ole Miss struck first in the game with a three-run third inning. The Rebels plated three courtesy of four singles, a walk and an MSU error to take a 3-0 lead.
 
Missouri State led off the top of the fourth with Weakly reaching on an error by the Ole Miss third baseman, but in the next at-bat, the Bears grounded into a double play and remained without a run after four. Ole Miss then tacked on a fourth run in the home half with a two-out, RBI-double to left field.
 
The Bears once again led off the inning with a baserunner, this time in the fifth via a Kim DeBold single up the middle. Unfortunately, Missouri State was unable to capitalize as the next three hitters were retired in order.
 
Ole Miss ended the game in run-rule fashion in the bottom of the fifth as they plated four runs via a walk, a single and a couple of doubles.
 
The Bears will close out the Ole Miss Classic tomorrow with a rematch against Mount St. Mary's. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. CT.