WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The Northwest Missouri State University softball team opened up Saturday's action with a 13-8 triumph over Southwestern Oklahoma State the Mustang Round Up.
 
The Bearcats gained the upper-hand in the first inning when Lauren Gray doubled home Lillie Filger with one to give Northwest a 1-0 advantage.
 
Northwest increased the lead to 3-0 in the third. Abby Nolte lifted a sac fly to score Alexis Brown. Skylar Pieper added a solo homer with two outs in the third.
 
Southwestern Oklahoma State got on the board with a single run in the bottom of the third to cut the Northwest lead to 3-1.
 
Gray produced two more runs with a two-out single to left in the fourth. Gray's hit plated both Filger and Lela Bryant to post the Bearcats to a 5-1 lead.
 
SWOSU answered back with a trio of runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Bearcat advantage to one at 5-4.
 
Northwest blew it open in the top of the fifth with a six-run outburst. Gaige Pinkerton singled with the bases loaded to score Pieper. Bryant followed with a bases loaded walk to drive in Avery Mayberry. Filger also drew a bases loaded walk to score Sophie Mayhugh. Alexis Brown delivered a single to bring home Sara Farlow. Nolte completed the inning's scoring with an RBI single to center to push Bryant across the plate. Northwest held an 11-4 lead after the six-run inning.
 
SWOSU got four runs back in the home end of the fifth to pull within 11-8. SWOSU had its first five batters reach in the fifth. Bearcat head coach Naomi Tellez lifted Olivia Moyer after the second batter reached for Cassidy Paulson. Paulson surrendered two singles and a walk before setting down and getting three straight outs to end the inning with the 'Cats on top by three.
 
The Bearcat bats came back to life in the sixth with two outs. Filger reached in a single and moved to second on an error by the SWOSU pitcher to also put Mackenzie Mlnarik at third. Brown singled to the pitcher which allowed her to drive in Mlnarik. Gray delivered a two-out RBI single to left to plate Filger to give Northwest its final run of the game.
 
Moyer earned the win by going four innings and allowing six runs on five hits. She struck out three, while walking seven.
 
Paulson captured her first career save as she worked the final three innings. Paulson allowed two runs on four hits.
 
Filger went 2-for-4 with four runs scored and an RBI. Brown went 2-for-3 with two RBI and drew two walks. Gray had a three-hit, three-RBI performance. Abby Nolte knocked in two runs. Pieper went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two walks. Lela Bryant went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Brown and Gray each stole a base in the win.