TOPEKA, Kan. – The Northwest Missouri State softball team closed out the Washburn Invitational with a 12-7 victory over Rockhurst.
 
Northwest improves to 9-5 with the win.
 
Rockhurst posted one run in the top of the first, but the Bearcats quickly tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning. With Lillie Filger on first base after a single to center field, Skylar Pieper stepped up to the plate and doubled to left to bring Filger home.
 
In the bottom of the second Northwest was able to take the lead off a Filger single that scored Omara Love. The 'Cats added another run as Pieper doubled once again which allowed Lauren Gray to score. Heading into the third, Northwest was up 3-1.
 
Rockhurst went three up, three down in the top of the inning.
 
The Bearcats started off strong in the bottom of the third with Olivia Daugherty blasting a home run in the first at bat. Two batters later Love hit a double followed by a Lela Bryant single that scored Love and put Northwest up 5-1. Gray hit a double of her own that brought Bryant home, and then Avery Anderson singled to score Gray. Minutes later, Pieper recorded a double which scored Anderson. Daugherty found herself back up at the plate and hit her second homer of the inning that also scored Piper and Filger. After three innings, the 'Cats had an 11-1 advantage.
 
In the top of the fifth Rockhurst started to close in on the Bearcat lead as the Hawks hit a two-run homerun and later in the inning hit a three-run homerun to bring the score to 11-6, Northwest.
 
The 'Cats posted one run in the bottom of the fifth as Love reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Briley Kemper to cross home plate.
 
Rockhurst scored its seventh and final run in the sixth inning.
 
Northwest captured its third straight win, 12-7, over Rockhurst.
 
Jadyn Streigle got the pitching win going 5.0 innings giving up just five hits in 26 batters faced to go along with three strikeouts. Hayden Simmons pitched the other 2.0 innings as she tallied six strikeouts to the nine batters she faced.
 
Lillie Filger, Skylar Pieper, Olivia Daugherty, and Omara Love all had three hits in the game. Daugherty had a team-high four RBIs. The trio of Lela Bryant, Lauren Gray, and Avery Anderson all had two hits.
 
Northwest will be back in action in Joplin, Mo., March 4 as the team takes part in the MIAA/GLVC Crossover.