NOTE: The ESU Softball Classic games will now be played Saturday, Sunday and Monday - weather pending.

The Northwest Missouri State University softball team will work a little closer to home this weekend as they travel to Emporia, Kan., for the 2022 Emporia State Softball Classic.
 
The Bearcats (1-8 overall) are scheduled to play six games in the event. Northwest will play Missouri St.-Louis (Fri., 10 a.m.), Minnesota State (Fri., 2:30 p.m.), Quincy (Sat., 10 a.m.), Truman State (Sat., 2:30 p.m.), Minnesota-Duluth (Sun., 9:15 a.m.) and Wayne State (Sun., 11:30 a.m.).
 
ESU Softball Classic (Emporia, Kan.)
Saturday, Feb. 19
Northwest Missouri State vs. Missouri-St. Louis, 10 a.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs. No. 6 Minnesota State, 2:30 p.m.
 
Sunday, Feb. 20
Northwest Missouri State vs. Quincy, 10 a.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs. Truman State, 2:30 p.m.
 
Monday, Feb. 21
Northwest Missouri State vs. Minnesota-Duluth, 9:15 a.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs. Wayne State, 11:30 a.m. | MIAA NETWORK | LIVE STATS
 
Northwest picked up the first victory of head coach Naomi Tellez's career in the opening game of the Alvy Early Classic in Bentonville, Ark. The Bearcats tallied a 6-4 victory over Arkansas-Monticello. Northwest looked poised to pick up a second win against Southern Arkansas, but the Muleriders held off the Bearcats in an extra-inning 6-4 contest.
 
Jacee Winn is Northwest's top hitter through the first nine games. Winn has posted a team-best eight hits in 24 at-bats for a .333 average.
 
Ady Watts and Abby Nolte are tied for the team lead with three RBI.
 
The Bearcats have hit three home runs this season. Aubrey Griffith, Alexis Kump and Grace Ruehle all hit round-trippers at the Alvy Early Classic.
 
Lauren Gray leads the squad with four extra base hits. Gray has tallied four doubles out of her five hits this season.
 
Hannah Blackford leads the team in steals with two in two attempts.
 
Northwest raised its team batting average from .197 after the first weekend to .239 following the Alvy Early Classic. Northwest scored four runs in its opening weekend of play in Minnesota and upped that total of 12 runs in Arkansas.
 
The Bearcats lowered their team ERA to 7.08 after posting an 8.06 ERA in the opening weekend. Breck Dickey has struck out a team-high 22 batters. Hayden Simmons has retired 19 batters via strikeout.
 
The Bearcat defense made only six errors in 229 chances for a .974 fielding percentage.