MARYVILLE, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat softball team dropped two games against Missouri Western Friday. Game one the Bearcats fell 13-11 and the Griffons took game two 8-3.
Game 1 - Box Score (PDF)
The Griffons were the first to score in the top of the first inning to grab a 1-0 lead.
Kaitlyn Weis hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to take the lead, 2-1.
Missouri Western answered in the top of the second inning scoring five runs to take back the lead, 6-2.
Madison Friest started the momentum for the Bearcats in the bottom of the second inning with a double to center field. Next at bat,
Grace Jeffries doubled to left field bringing in Friest to score and cut the lead to 6-3.
The Griffons hit a two-run homer in the top of the third inning to push their lead to 8-3 over the Bearcats.
Erin Keeney singled to right field to start the bottom of the third inning. Shortly after,
Abby Nolte hit a two-run blast to cut the lead to 8-5.
The Griffons scored one run in the top of the fourth inning and three more runs in the top of the fifth inning to advance the lead to 12-5.
In the bottom of the fifth inning,
Karli Allen hit a two-run homer to cut the Griffons' lead to 12-7.
The Bearcats rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring three runs off two hits. Weis hit another homer to start the momentum. Shortly after, Nolte hit another two-run homer to left field making the score 12-10.
Missouri Western scored another run in the top of the seventh inning to push their lead to 13-10.
In the bottom of the seventh inning,
Alexis Handel reached base on a fielder's choice that allowed Friest to score. The seventh inning effort was not enough to defeat the Griffons as the Bearcats fell 13-11 in game one.
Game 2 - Box Score (PDF)
Missouri Western started game two with a home run and a RBI to grab a 2-0 lead over the Bearcats in the top of the second inning.
In the top of the fourth inning,
Erin Keeney doubled down the right field line to start the momentum for the Bearcats. Shortly after,
Abby Nolte singled to the shortstop. Next at bat,
Alexis Kump singled to left field to advance Nolte to second and Keeney to third.
Grace Jeffries then singled and advanced to second on an error by the left fielder. Keeney and Nolte scored to tie the game, 2-2.
Keeney hit a blast to left center in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Bearcats the lead, 3-2.
The Griffons fought back scoring three runs in the sixth and seventh inning to take game two 8-3 over the Bearcats.
Northwest moves to 7-13 overall on the season and 0-2 in conference play.
The Bearcats will host Illinois Springfield Sunday with the doubleheader beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Bearcat Softball Field
NOTES: Daugherty leads the team in batting average with a .386. She has six doubles, two home runs and seven RBI. Weis is right behind with a .364 batting average, three doubles, seven home runs and 17 RBI. Keeney is slugging a .359 average with four doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI.
