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Story Headlines
- The Northwest Missouri State softball team used a pair of seventh inning rallies to finish an unblemished opening weekend in Bentonville, Ark.
- The games, held at Memorial Park, were a part of the Arkansas-Monticello 8-State Classic.
- The Bearcats started Saturday by scoring four runs in the final frame to top Upper Iowa, 7-4.
- Northwest crossed the plate five times in the seventh to capture a 15-13 victory over Missouri S&T in the nightcap.
- Northwest improved its record to 4-0 on the year. The Peacocks move to 2-1 after the loss while the Miners are now 0-4 this season.
- Due to impending weather conditions, all Sunday games in the Classic have been cancelled.
- Alexis Kelsey crushed three home runs and added seven RBI on the day.
 

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Game One Key Northwest Statistics (Northwest beats Upper Iowa, 7-4)
- Kendle Schieber (2-0) picked up the complete game victory, surrendering nine hits while striking out three.
- Freshman Alexis Kelsey finished 2-for-3, tying the school record with a pair of home runs while driving in three.
- Rebecca Maher came up with two clutch base knocks, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBI.
- Abigail Gilson drilled her first home run of the season, going 1-for-3 as the DP.
- Second baseman Torri Blythe crossed the plate twice, finishing 1-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt.
 
Game One Key Northwest Innings
- Kelsey handed the Bearcats an early lead with a no-doubt homer to left center in the top of the first.

- After falling behind 3-1, Northwest took advantage of two Peacock errors to level the score in the third. Jaedra Moses and Blythe each reached base on errors before Maher connected with a solid line drive single to left, scoring two.

- Schieber forced UIU to strand runners in scoring position in the third, fourth and fifth innings before the Peacocks broke through with a home run in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead. The Bearcats quickly responded when Gilson sent a soaring fly ball over the fence in left center to lead off the seventh. Blythe reached on a bunt single and promptly stole second, ultimately scoring when Maher sent a line drive down the left field line. Kelsey cleared the bases with an opposite field home run in the next at bat, giving Northwest a 7-4 advantage.

- With the help of Baylee Scarbrough's diving catch, Schieber set the Peacocks down in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory.
 

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Game Two Key Northwest Statistics (Northwest beats Missouri S&T, 15-13)
- Sarah Baldwin got the start and threw four plus innings, striking out four.
- Rachel Smith (2-0) picked up the victory after striking out three over two innings of work.
- Kendle Schieber added her second save this season after striking out two batters in the seventh inning.
- The Bearcats batted around twice, sending 10 hitters to the plate in the third and seventh innings. All nine starters reached base at least once.
- The second was the only inning in which neither team scored. Both sides scored in the same inning three times.
- Alexis Kelsey drove in four RBI and scored two runs after hitting her fourth home run of the weekend. The freshman finished the opening weekend with a .688 on base percentage and a 1.667 slugging percentage.
- Torri Blythe reached base five times, finishing 4-for-5 with a walk. The junior scored three runs and stole one base.
- Freshman Kiana Baderdeen turned in a 3-for-5 day at the plate, driving in one and scoring twice. The right fielder stole her first base in the first inning.
- Chantel Adams scored three times after going 3-for-5 at the dish with a double.
- Catcher Jessica Rawie hit her first home run this season, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored.
- Designated player Madison Jones drove in three on a trio of hits, including a two-run double.
 
Game Two Key Northwest Innings
- Trailing 2-0, Northwest grabbed its first lead of the game in the third when Baderdeen hustled down the line to force an errant throw by the third baseman. Blythe reached on a bunt single and, two batters later, Kelsey cleared the bases with a home run to right center. Rawie extended the lead with a two-run home run of her own, this time to left field, scoring Adams who doubled.

- After the Miners tied things up at five in the bottom of the third, the Bearcats quickly responded with a pair of runs in the fourth. Blythe drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Baderdeen sent her home with a double down the left field line. Three batters later, Rawie singled in Baderdeen, making the score 7-5 for the time being.

- S&T captured a 10-7 lead with a four run fifth, but Northwest would again answer in the ensuing inning. Adams reached on a one-out single before Rawie walked and Scarbrough singled to load the bases. Gilson plated Adams on a sacrifice fly to left before Jones drove in the other two with a double to right center.

- Facing yet another deficit, the Bearcats scored five runs in the final inning to clinch the thrilling victory. Blythe, Baderdeen, Kelsey and Adams all singled to open the inning, sending three runs home in the process. Jones added an RBI single to center three batters after Rawie walked.
 

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Up Next
- With Sunday's games cancelled, the Bearcats will return to the diamond next weekend when they travel to Rochester, Minn. to play in the NSIC/MIAA Crossover, hosted by Winona State. Northwest is scheduled to play Northern State and Upper Iowa Friday, Feb. 19th at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.