KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Missouri State softball fell to 3-12 on the season with a 10-5 loss to South Dakota (11-11) on a weather plagued day two of the Tennessee Invitational. 
 
A game that was slated to start at 9:00 a.m. CT got pushed to just after 4 p.m. CT due to rain in Knoxville, altering the originally scheduled two-game day for the Bears to a single contest against the Coyotes. 
 
South Dakota jumped out to an early lead with a two-run homer in the top of the first inning to begin the day, but the Bears fought back multiple times throughout the game. In the bottom of the first, Missouri State got a run back after knocking two singles and taking advantage of a Coyotes error to cut the deficit in half after an inning. 
 
Missouri State tied things up in the bottom of the second with Kelsie Lewis sparking the Bears offense by drawing a walk. Then, left fielder Emily Chadwick singled to left field, paving the way for Olivia Krehbiel, who sent an RBI-single through the left side to score Lewis and knot the game at 2-2 after two innings. 
 
As was the theme for the first half of the game, whenever Missouri State would tie things up and swing the momentum, the Coyotes would answer and take it right back. South Dakota knocked a solo home run in the top of the third with two outs to retake the lead, 3-2. 
 
The Bears responded quickly as freshman Kayla Ulrich led off the inning with a single, making way for pinch runner Taylor Akers, who immediately swiped second base. With a runner in scoring position, Emily Shipman laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Akers to third, and Chloe Merced drove her in with a sacrifice fly to right field, tying the game at 3-3 after three. 
 
Once again, the Bears surrendered a solo home run in the top of the next inning as South Dakota took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the fourth. After the Bears went down in order in their half of the fourth, USD came back with a big fifth inning. 
 
The fifth inning would ultimately serve as the game's deciding frame as the Coyotes posted five runs on three hits and an MSU error in the inning. After an error and a bunt single to begin the inning, Missouri State forced two fly outs, but South Dakota put together a two-out rally to take a 9-3 lead. 
 
The Bears didn't let the big inning deter them as they fought back in the bottom of the fifth. Krehbiel drew a walk to lead off the inning before scoring on a double to left field off the bat of Annie Mueller. After advancing to third on the throw, Mueller scored in the next at-bat on an Ulrich RBI-single to left field, pulling MSU back within four runs. 
 
South Dakota tacked on an insurance run in the top of the sixth to extend the lead to 10-5. Unfortunately, the Bears were unable to make a push over the final two innings in the loss. 
 
Missouri State's two, three and four hitters (Krehbiel, Mueller and Ulrich) each recorded two hits and an RBI, while Krehbiel scored twice and Mueller scored once. 
 
The Bears will close out the Tennessee Invitational tomorrow (March 10) with a rematch against South Dakota. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. CT in Knoxville.