The Northwest Missouri State softball team moved to 9-9 and 3-3 in MIAA play with two wins over Emporia State. The Bearcats edged the Hornets 5-4 in the first game of the doubleheader before finishing the day with a 12-2 victory in five innings of play.

Emporia State started off strong in game one, scoring one run in the second inning and two runs in the top of the fourth, but the Bearcats used a four-run fourth inning to rally back and take the lead. The Hornets would score again in the fifth, but Olivia Daugherty singled and scored on Madison Friest's double in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win.

Daugherty scored two runs for Northwest in the first game, and Friest and Daugherty were both 2-for-3 at the plate with each recording a double. Abby Nolte hit a home run in the win and tallied three RBI as well. Breck Dickey picked up the win in the circle in 6.0 innings of work, allowing six hits while giving up just one walk and striking out three.

Northwest used strong momentum from the first game to maintain dominance in game two of the day. Six Bearcats scored runs in the game and eight batters reached base at least once. Kaitlyn Weis led the way by going 3-for-3 at the plate while hitting two home runs, one of which was a grand slam in the second inning. Hannah Blackford was 2-for-2 with a walk, two RBIs, and three runs scored while Daugherty was also 2-for-2 with a home run, a walk, three RBI, and three runs scored. Raven Defrain pitched a complete game and moved to 2-2 on the season. 

Northwest is back at Bearcat Softball Field on Tuesday, April 6 when they take on Central Missouri in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.