The Northwest Missouri State softball team moved to 14-18 on the season and 8-12 in conference play after a split with Nebraska-Kearney. The Lopers took the first game 9-8 before the Bearcats rallied with an 11-9 victory in game two. 

The Lopers jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead after scoring four runs in the second inning and two runs in the third while holding the Bearcats to a lone run off a Grace Jeffries' home run. UNK would go on to add another run in the fourth inning before the Bearcats would attempt to rally back.

In the top of the fifth, Olivia Daugherty homered to center field, scoring Hannah Blackford and picking up two RBI. Abby Nolte followed it up with a home run of her own down the left field line to bring the game back within 7-4.

In the sixth inning, Alexis Kump led off with a double down the left field line and Grace Ruehle walked to put runners on first and second. Jeffries singled to left field, advancing Kump and Ruehle and loading the bases. Hannah Blackford would single, scoring Kump before Jacee Winn reached on a fielder's choice that scored Ruehle. Kaitlyn Weis then singled to right field which scored Blackford, but was then caught at second trying to take an extra base on the throw from right field. 

With the score tied at seven, a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth returned the lead to the Lopers, 9-7. The Bearcats did add another run off a Madison Friest home run, but could not string together any more hits and dropped game one, 9-8. 

Blackford was 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot, scoring two runs and tallying an RBI. Kump was 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Ashleigh Creek dropped to 1-1 on the season and took the loss in the circle. 

Game two was a back and forth battle again, as the Bearcats scored three runs in the top of the first inning but then allowed four Loper runs in the bottom half of the frame. UNK also scored two more runs in the third inning to extend their lead to 6-3. 

Northwest strung together three strong innings by scoring two runs in the fourth and adding three more each in the fifth and sixth innings. After three more Loper runs in the sixth, the Bearcats still held an 11-9 lead and shut the Lopers out in the bottom of the seventh to hold on for the win. 

Six Bearcats hit home runs, Daugherty leading the way with two. Weis was 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBI. Winn and Daugherty were both 3-for-5 with two RBI. Hayden Simmons picked up the win in the circle in 4.0 innings of work for the Bearcats and improved to 3-1 on the season. 

The Bearcats will take on Washburn on Wednesday, April 21. First pitch at Bearcat Softball Field is set for 2 p.m.