Story Headlines- The Northwest Missouri State softball team opened play at the MWSU Apple Market Classic on Friday in St. Joseph, Mo.
- The Bearcats outlasted Upper Iowa in the first game, 3-2.
- Minnesota State Mankato rallied past Northwest in the nightcap, 10-6.
- The Bearcats are now 8-10 on the year.
- Northwest has now scored in the first inning in 13 of its 18 games this season after doing so in both games on Friday.
Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 3, Upper Iowa 2)
- Junior
Sarah Baldwin started in the circle for the Bearcats and finished her sixth complete game of the year, giving up two unearned runs on seven hits while striking out seven.
- Batting leadoff,
Rebecca Maher scored two runs on a pair of singles. The freshman also stole her third base on the year.
- Senior
Stephanie Mark crushed her sixth home run on the year, finishing 1-for-2 with two RBI.
- Designated player
Madison Jones finished 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
- Freshman catcher
Jessica Rawie added an RBI for the Bearcats.
- The Peacocks outhit Northwest, 7-5.
Game One Key Innings-
Rebecca Maher led off the first inning with a single back up the middle. After moving to second on a groundout,
Stephanie Mark drove her home with a home run to straightaway center.
- After Upper Iowa got a run back in the third, the Bearcats extended the lead back to two after Maher led off with an infield single. The freshman stole third after moving to second on
Torri Blythe's scrifice bunt.
Jessica Rawie drove her in when she sent a sacrifice fly to center field.
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Sarah Baldwin retired the side in the second and sixth. The Bearcats got out of a jam in the fourth when the Peacocks left the bases loaded on a groundout to Mark.
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Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 6, MSU Mankato 10)
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Cassidy Lee tallied three hits at the plate and drove in two runs.
- Third baseman
Chantel Adams clubbed her second homer this season, scoring two runs and driving in one.
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Torri Blythe finished 2-for-4 with a run.
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Stephanie Mark scored one run and drove in another on a pair of singles.
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Kendle Schieber started on the rubber for the Bearcats, giving up five earned runs on 11 hits over 4 2/3 innings.
- Senior
Abbie Vitosh came in to pitch the final 2 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits.
Game Two Key Innings- After the Mavericks put up four runs in the top of the first, Northwest answered by plating five runs in the bottom of the inning. Following a
Rebecca Maher leadoff walk,
Torri Blythe and
Stephanie Mark both drove singles through the infield.
Chantel Adams and
Jessica Rawie drew walks to load up the bases, followed by a ground ball to short from
Madison Jones. Mark beat the throw home by a split second, knocking out the Mankato pitcher before an out was recorded.
Cassidy Lee finished the scoring with a two-run single to left.
- The Mavericks picked up one run in the second, one in the third and two in the fifth to take an 8-5 lead.
- Adams led off the fifth by slamming a home run over the fence in left center.
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Up Next- The Bearcats will return to St. Joseph, Mo. tomorrow for another pair of non-conference games. First, Northwest faces off with #14 Winona State at 10 a.m. before a 2 p.m. contest against Wayne State.
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