MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State University softball team split a pair of 1-0 decisions with the Missouri Western Griffons Friday at Bearcat Field.

The Griffons took the opener, 1-0, before the Bearcats answered back with an identical 1-0 victory in the second game.

Northwest moves to 9-34 overall and 3-15 in MIAA play, while Missouri Western is now 19-20 overall and 9-9 in league play.

GAME ONE
The Griffons held the Bearcats to three hits and scored the lone run of the game in the fourth inning for the win.

MWSU used three hits in the fourth to produce the contest's lone run.

Bearcat starter Breck Dickey went the distance allowing four hits. Dickey struck out four Griffons.

Northwest's Skylar Pieper accounted for two of the three Bearcat hits. Lauren Gray ripped a one-out double in the fifth for the other Bearcat hit.

GAME TWO
Northwest used a combined two-hit shutout from Breck Dickey and Hayden Simmons to stymie the Griffons in game two.

Dickey worked three scoreless innings to begin the contest and gave way to Simmons in the fourth. Simmons did not allow a hit in her four innings of work. Simmons recorded five strikeouts as she earned the victory.

Northwest broke through for its first run of the day in the fifth inning. Abby Nolte singled with one out. Avery Anderson was inserted as a pinch runner after Nolte reached first. Ady Watts followed with a single. Aubrey Griffiths singled to right and MWSU right fielder Liz Vaupel uncorked a wild throw to third allowing Anderson to gallop home to give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead.

Simmons allowed a pair of one-out, seventh-inning walks, but retired the final two Griffons to claim the victory.