SPRINGFIELD, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State University softball team topped Drury 12-7 by scoring 11 runs over its final three innings Saturday.

Drury grabbed an early 4-0 lead over the Bearcats in the first inning.

In the top of the third inning, Olivia Daugherty started the momentum for the Bearcats with a double. Shortly after, Kaitlyn Weis hit an RBI single to center field bringing in Daugherty to score and cut the lead to 4-1.

Drury scored a run in the bottom of the third and fourth innings to push their lead to 6-1 over the Bearcats.

In the top of the fifth inning, Erin Keeney hit a two-RBI single to right field to allow Daugherty and Grace Jeffries to score and cut Drury's lead, 6-3.

The Panthers scored another run in the bottom of the fifth inning to put their lead at 7-3.

Alexis Kump hit a double to start the sixth inning. Next at bat, Ady Watts hit a two-run homer to continue the momentum. Shortly after, Weis joined in on the action with another two-run homer to tie the game, 7-7.

The top of the seventh inning saw six hits and five runs from the Bearcats. Kump got on base with a single. Watts then hit a RBI double to bring in Kump to score. Next at bat, Jeffries doubled pushing Watts to third. Daugherty then hit a RBI single allowing Watts to score. Jacee Winn knocked a RBI single to send Jeffries to score. Shortly after, Keeney hit a two RBI single bringing in Winn and Daugherty to score to secure the 12-7 victory over the Panthers.

The Bearcats move to 5-11 overall on the season and will continue to compete in the Drury Invitational Sunday with games against Newman and Southwest Baptist.
 
NOTES: Daugherty leads the team in batting average with a .431. She has hit six doubles, two home runs and seven RBI. Daugherty has had eight multiple hit games on the year so far. Weis leads the team in RBI with 13. She is slugging a .352 average with three doubles and five home runs. Rachel Smith has appeared in 11 games with a 4.95 ERA and a 2-4 win-loss record.