TOPEKA, Kan. – The Northwest Missouri State softball team knocked off Southwest Minnesota State 12-9.
 
Northwest improves to 7-5 overall with the victory.
 
The Bearcats went three up, three down as Hayden Simmons struck out two batters and one grounded out to third.
 
Olivia Daugherty got things going in the top of the second with a double to right field followed by Abby Nolte hitting a single through the left side that resulted in a throwing error allowing Daugherty to reach third and Nolte to reach second. In the next at bat, Omara Love hit a single to left field that scored Daugherty and put Northwest up 1-0.
 
The 'Cats got the bases loaded after Lela Bryant got on with a walk. Madison Friest then reached on a fielder's choice that got Nolte out at the plate. Two batters later Lillie Filger singled to the shortstop that allowed Love to score and increase the Northwest lead to 2-0.
 
SMSU got the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, but Northwest got three straight outs to close the inning with a pop up to second that was followed by two strikeouts by Simmons.
 
Aubrey Griffith started the third inning off with a walk. Daugherty followed that with a single up the middle, and Nolte proceeded to single to left center that scored Griffith. Love was next up to the plate and singled to left field to load the bases up. Lela Bryant stepped up and hit a grand slam to bring the Northwest lead to 7-0.
 
The Mustangs got their first batter on base, but catcher Madison Friest caught her stealing second during the next at bat to get the first out. Northwest then got a pop up for the second out and Simmons then struck out her fifth batter of the night.
 
Skylar Pieper singled up the middle to start the top of the fourth. Daugherty reached on a fielder's choice two batters later. Nolte then hit a sacrifice fly to right field that advanced Pieper to third. Love then singled through the left side to score Pieper and put the 'Cats up 8-0.
 
With the bases loaded for the Mustangs and two outs, Simmons tallied her sixth strikeout of the contest to send it to the fifth.
SMSU put up three runs in the bottom of the fifth to put the score at 8-3 heading into the sixth.
 
Daugherty got on base as she was hit by a pitch and in the next at bat Nolte reached on an error. Love followed Nolte with a single to left field to load the bases for Northwest. With two outs, Madison Friest then blasted the second Bearcat grand slam of the night to put Northwest up 12-3.
 
The Mustangs would not go away as they put up two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to bring the score to 12-5.
 
Southwest Minnesota State continued to battle back in the bottom of the seventh as the Mustangs put up four runs, but it wouldn't be enough to top the 'Cats.
 
Northwest recorded a 12-9 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in the Bearcats second game of the Washburn Invitational.
 
Love goes for 4-for-4 at the plate for the second straight game while tallying three runs and two RBIs. Nolte, Daugherty, and Filger all recorded two runs in the matchup, and Friest and Bryant each had a grand slam.
 
Hayden Simmons gets the pitching win going 4.2 innings with six strikeouts, giving up three runs, and six hits. Dickey replaced Simmons and went for 1.1 innings posting three strikeouts.
 
Northwest is back in action Sunday, Feb. 26 as the squad faces the University of Mary at 9:30 a.m. followed by Rockhurst at 3:30 p.m.