Box Score (PDF)

The Northwest Missouri State softball team started their season out 2-0 with a 7-4 victory over William Jewell in their first day at the Drury Invitational.

The Bearcat offense started off strong in the top of the first inning by scoring three runs on three hits. Avery Anderson singled to right field before stealing second. After Olivia Daugherty walked, Kaitlyn Weis homered to give Northwest the 3-0 lead while picking up three RBI.

The second inning was similar for the Bearcats. Ady Watts led off with a double to left field before advancing to third base on a Jacee Winn sacrifice bunt. Hannah Blackford singled to left field, scoring Watts and stole second base on the next play. Daugherty picked up her third extra-base hit of the day with a double to center field, scoring Blackford. Weis walked and moved Daugherty to second before an error by the centerfielder allowed Abby Nolte to reach base and Daugherty to score. A groundout to third base ended the inning for the Bearcats.

William Jewell rallied in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs on four hits and no errors. But Northwest added another run in the top of the fourth inning when Anderson scored off Weis' single to left field.

The Cardinals added another run in the bottom of the fifth, but after trading zeros in the sixth and seventh inning, Northwest walked away with the 7-4 win.

Freshman Hayden Simmons scored her first collegiate win in the circle. Anderson and Daugherty each scored two runs on one hit while Daugherty picked up an RBI. Weis and Blackford each scored one run on two hits with Weis tallying a team-high four RBI.

The Bearcats will be back in action Saturday afternoon when they take on Illinois-Springfield. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. in Springfield, Missouri.