Story Headlines- The No. 16-ranked Northwest Missouri State softball team split a pair of conference contests with Lincoln Friday afternoon in Jefferson City, Mo.
- The Bearcats used nine hits to topple the Blue Tigers in game one, 5-1, before falling 3-2 in the nightcap.
- Northwest is now 22-8 overall and 6-4 in the MIAA, while Lincoln moves to 3-30 this season and 2-12 against conference opponents.
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Torri Blythe had four hits and scored two runs on the day.
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Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 5, Lincoln 1)
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Kendle Schieber (12-3) struck out five batters and gave up just three hits in six innings of work to pick up the win. The senior added an RBI single on offense.
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Rachel Smith finished the game in the circle, giving up one unearned run in her one inning of action.
- Second baseman
Torri Blythe finished 3-for-4 at the dish, driving in two runs and scoring another.
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Kiana Baderdeen scored two runs and stole one base.
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Jaedra Moses turned in her sixth multi-hit effort of the season, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.
- Catcher
Jessica Rawie scored a run after doubling in the sixth inning.
Game One Key Innings- Northwest jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Baderdeen drew a one-out walk. Blythe then singled to right and used her speed to score on a pair of Blue Tiger errors.
- The Bearcats extended the lead in the fifth after Baderdeen reached on an error to lead off the inning. The freshman swiped second before scoring on Blythe's double.
- Rawie started a rally in the sixth with a one-out double before scoring on Schieber's single. Blythe knocked in Schieber with a single of her own, giving Northwest a 5-0 advantage.
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Game Two Key Statistics (Lincoln 3, Northwest 2)
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Sarah Baldwin (4-4) took the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, on six hits in five innings of work. The senior struck out seven batters and did not issue a walk.
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Taylor Blackford came on to close out the contest, pitching a scoreless sixth inning.
- Junior
Chantel Adams reached base twice, scoring one run after doubling and drawing a walk.
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Torri Blythe scored a run after finishing 1-for-4 with a stolen base.
- Freshman
Celena Kipping drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.
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Rebecca Maher doubled and drew two walks, driving in one run.
Game Two Key Innings- With the contest still scoreless, Adams drew a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth. After moving to second on a wild pitch and to third on an error, Adams scurried home when Kipping lifted a sacrifice fly to left.
- Northwest doubled its lead in the fifth after Blythe singled and stole second to open the inning. The junior sped home two batters later when Maher doubled.
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Up Next- The Bearcats will head to St. Charles, Mo. for an MIAA twin bill with Lindenwood Saturday, March 25 beginning at 11 a.m.
