KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Missouri State softball fell to 3-11 on the season with a couple of losses to open its stay at the Tennessee Invitational. The Bears fell to Ohio State, 6-2, in the first game before suffering a 16-0 loss to No. 8 Tennessee later in the afternoon. 
 
Game 1 – Ohio State 6, Missouri State 2
The first game of the Tennessee Invitational for Missouri State saw the Bears battle back against Ohio State. 
 
The Buckeyes jumped on the board first with a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the second to grab an early lead. Following a quiet third inning for both teams, MSU got on the board for the first time in the fourth. 
 
Freshman Kayla Ulrich led off the inning with a single to third base, before a sacrifice bunt moved pinch runner Taylor Akers to second with one out. Emily Shipman then sent a single through the right side, before Kenzie Derryberry scored Akers on a sacrifice fly to center field. 
 
The Bears retired the Buckeyes in order in the fourth to bring Missouri State back up to the plate with some momentum. Missouri State took advantage of one-out and two-out errors by Ohio State to push another run across and tie the game at 2-2 after four and a half innings. 
 
Unfortunately, OSU responded in the home half of the fifth with a run on a solo homer to left field to retake the lead, 3-2. Missouri State threatened in the top of the sixth, using a hit by pitch and two singles to load the bases with two outs, but a liner to second ended the Bears' chance.  
 
Ohio State then added insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs on three extra-base hits and a sacrifice fly to take a four-run lead into the final inning. 
 
Missouri State managed a couple of baserunners in the final frame, but they were unable to make a comeback, falling 6-2 in the first game of the Tennessee Invitational. 
 
Game 2 – No. 8 Tennessee 16, Missouri State 0 (5 Innings)
In game two, the Bears faced off against the tournament's host and 2023 Women's College World Series participant in No. 8 Tennessee. 
 
It was all Lady Vols in this one as Tennessee scored in every inning en route to a 16-0 run-rule victory over Missouri State in five innings. UT scored 16 runs on 14 hits and the Bears committed three errors on the afternoon. Six of Tennessee's hits were for extra bases, including four homers, as the Lady Vols entered the game fifth nationally in home runs per game. 
 
Abby Ford went 2-for-2 at the plate, including a leadoff single to begin the game as she accounted for both of MSU's hits in the contest. 
 
Missouri State will be back in action in the tournament tomorrow (March 9). The Bears face South Dakota at 9 a.m. CT, before playing a second contest with opponent and game time to be determined in the bracket-style tournament.