Story Headlines- The Northwest Missouri State softball team dropped two heartbreakers against No. 18 Central Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon in Edmond, Okla.
- The Bronchos won an offensive showdown in game one, outlasting the Bearcats, 16-13.
- After Northwest rallied to take a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh, UCO walked off with an RBI triple to win game two, 6-5.
- The Bearcats are now 2-6 on the year, while the Bronchos improved to 11-5 on the year.
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Stephanie Mark had eight hits on the day, including three home runs and eight RBI.
Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 13, Central Oklahoma 16)
- Mark went 4-for-5 in game one including a grand slam. The senior drove in five runs and scored three more.
- Catcher
Jessica Rawie crushed her second homer of the season in the fourth inning, one of two hits on the day. She added three RBI and one run scored.
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Torri Blythe reached base three times, going 2-for-4 with a walk. The sophomore stole her fourth base of the season.
- Freshman
Rebecca Maher scored three runs after finishing with a pair of singles.
- Third baseman
Chantel Adams clubbed a pair of doubles, leading to two RBI and two runs scored.
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Sarah Baldwin started the game for the Bearcats, giving up nine runs in 2.1 innings pitched.
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Kendle Schieber threw 3.2 innings in relief, striking out two and giving up two runs.
Game One Key Innings- The Bearcats jumped out to a quick start in the first after
Rebecca Maher reached on an error. After
Stephanie Mark drove a single up the middle,
Baylee Scarbrough loaded the bases with an infield single.
Chantel Adams and
Jessica Rawie each knocked in a run after Maher came in to score on a wild pitch, giving Northwest an early 3-0 lead.
- After the Bronchos collected 10 runs in the third, Northwest began to claw back in its next at bat.
Torri Blythe reached on a bunt single and moved to second on Maher's single. Mark drove in Blythe on a single to left, followed by a sacrifice fly for Scarbrough.
Chantel Adams knocked in Mark with a double to deep right and came around to score when
Jessica Rawie sent a pitch over the left field fence to close the deficit to 14-9.
- Although they trailed by seven headed into their last at bat, the Bearcats didn't give up.
Kendle Schieber led things off with a single to right and moved to second on
Cassidy Lee's base hit up the middle. After Maher loaded the bases with an infield single, Mark crushed a home run over the fence in left center, closing the gap to 16-13.
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Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 5, Central Oklahoma 6)
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Abbie Vitosh started game two for Northwest, going five innings and giving up four runs while striking out one.
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Stephanie Mark hit two home runs and drove in three runs, finishing the game 4-for-4.
- Shortstop
Rebecca Maher hit her first collegiate home run in the third.
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Torri Blythe reached base twice, stealing one base and scoring one run.
- Junior
Madison Jones drew two walks and scored a run.
- Freshman
Abigail Gilson drilled a pinch-hit double in her only at-bat.
Game Two Key Innings-
Rebecca Maher and
Stephanie Mark tied things up at two when they led off the third inning with back-to-back home runs. Maher crushed a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence, followed by Mark driving a pitch to center.
- After
Torri Blythe singled through the gap at short, she swiped second base to get into scoring position. Mark drove her in when she got a hold of a 3-0 pitch and sent it over the fence in left to give the Bearcats a 4-3 lead.
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Madison Jones reached base in the seventh after drawing a walk and moved to third on
Abigail Gilson's pinch hit double. Jones came in to score when
Cassidy Lee reached on an error by the first baseman, putting Northwest ahead, 5-4. The Bronchos scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the victory.
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Up Next- The Bearcats travel to Tahlequah, Okla. to play Northeastern State on Sunday, March 8. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at noon. Northwest will return to Maryville for its home opener on Wednesday, March 11 against Upper Iowa. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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