TOPEKA, Kan. - The Northwest Missouri State University softball team secured a 5-4 victory over the Concordia St. Paul Bears at Shawnee Lake Park.

Northwest improved its record to 3-3 on the season, while CSP fell to 1-5 overall.

Bearcat starter Hayden Simmons tossed five innings of two-hit ball to earn her first win of the season. Simmons allowed two unearned runs and struck out eight.

CSP got on the board in the second inning as a result of a Northwest error.

Northwest came back in their half of the second to take the lead. Facing an 0-2 count with two outs, Madison launched for a homer to left-center to even the score at 1-1. Sophie Mayhugh followed with a walk to set up Lela Bryant. Bryant poked a deep ball down the left field line for a two-run homer that put the Bearcats on top, 3-1.

Northwest pushed the margin to 5-1 in the fifth when Olivia Daugherty reached on a CSP error at second base.

The Bears climbed back to within 5-4 on a three-run homer by Danielle Sharum in the top of the sixth.

Northwest's Jadyn Streigle pitched the final two innings and allowed two hits and two earned runs. She worked around a one-walk in the seventh to clinch the victory.

Northwest's Bryant went 2-for-3 with two RBI.