JOPLIN, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State softball team kicked off the Missouri Southern Lion Classic with a 4-0 win over Rockhurst.
 
The Bearcats improved to 10-5 overall.
 
In the bottom of the second, Northwest was the first team to get a score across the plate as Lauren Gray singled to left field which allowed Abby Nolte to come home.
 
The Bearcats added to their 1-0 lead in the third with Olivia Daugherty smashing her seventh home run of the season that scored Skylar Pieper as well. Heading into the fourth, Northwest was up 3-0.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Nolte hit a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Brylee Kemper to score from third to give the 'Cats another run.
 
Northwest recorded its first shutout win of the season as the squad defeated Rockhurst 4-0.
 
Hayden Simmons got the pitching start and went 3.0 innings with four strikeouts and only allowing one hit.
 
Jadyn Streigle replaced Simmons for the final 4.0 innings and gave up no hits while recording three strikeouts. Streigle was credited with the win as she improved to 3-1.
 
Olivia Daugherty was the lone Bearcat to get more than one hit in the contest. Daugherty was 2-for-3 at the plate and had two RBIs. Skylar Pieper earned two walks and scored one run. Lela Bryant and Lauren Gray were the only other Bearcats to record a hit as both went 1-for-2.
 
Northwest will play again today at 3:00 p.m. against Southwest Baptist.