TOPEKA, Kan. – The Northwest Missouri State softball team battled back from a four-run deficit against Minnesota Duluth and secured the win with a
Lela Bryant walk-off in the bottom of the seventh.
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Northwest improves to 5-4 overall with the victory.
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In the top of the first, the Bulldogs hit a home run to take an early 3-0 lead.
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The Bearcats responded with
Olivia Daugherty sending one up the middle to score
Skylar Pieper from third to put Northwest on the board. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Duluth walked which allowed
Aubrey Griffith to come home and bring the score to 3-2, Bulldogs.
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In the top of the second UMD scored its fourth run of the game to take a 4-2 lead.
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Fast forward to the bottom of the third where
Olivia Daugherty hit a solo shot to left center to bring the 'Cats back to within one run.
Omara Love then brought
Lela Bryant home from second with a hit up the middle that tied the game at 4-4.
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With the bases loaded in the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs recorded a grand slam to take the lead at 8-4.
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In the bottom fourth
Abby Nolte slipped one past the third baseman and the shortstop to score
Lillie Filger. Not long after that,
Madison Friest snuck a hit down the left field line to score
Olivia Daugherty and bring the score to 8-6 heading into the fifth.
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Olivia Daugherty continued her impressive day with a double as she hit a line drive just past the shortstop to bring home
Lillie Filger from second. The 'Cats were down one at 8-7 after Filger scored in the bottom of the fifth.
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Omara Love tied the game at 8-8 as she recorded an RBI double.
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With two outs in the bottom of the seventh,
Lela Bryant stepped up to the plate and drilled a walk-off deep into the outfield that scored pinch runner
Cora Schweitzer from second and gave the 'Cats the 9-8 victory.
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Hayden Simmons gets credited with the win facing four batters, recording two strikeouts, and giving up zero runs.
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Olivia Daugherty went 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs.
Madison Friest went 2-for-3 and tallied an RBI.
Aubrey Griffith and
Omara Love each had two hits in the game and Love recorded two RBIs.
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