The Northwest Missouri State University softball team gained a series split with the Emporia State Hornets Saturday at the Trusler Sports Complex.

The Hornets gained a win in the opener, 7-3, but the Bearcats bounced back to notch a 2-1 victory in the second game.

Northwest is 17-19 overall and an even 6-6 in MIAA play. ESU is 24-14 overall and 8-8 in league action.
 
GAME ONE
Northwest held a 3-1 lead halfway through the first game, but eventually dropped a 7-3 decision to Emporia State.
 
ESU scored a run in the second on a throwing error by Bearcat shortstop Annie Gahan in the bottom of the second for a 1-0 lead.
 
Abby Nolte hammered a two-run homer to right-center in the fourth to stake the Bearcats to a 2-1 lead. Gahan made up for her throwing error with a solo homer in the fourth to give the Bearcats a 3-1 advantage.
 
ESU got two runs back in the bottom half of the fourth to draw even at 3-3. The Hornets then put up a four-spot in the fifth to wrap up the scoring.
 
Lillie Filger went 2-for-3 with a walk and Omara Love went 2-for-4 to help the Bearcats in the top two slots in the batting order. Nolte went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Nolte collected her fifth homer of the season and 34th career round-tripper. Nolte has tallied 123 career RBI as a Bearcat.
 
Bearcat starting pitcher Jadyn Streigle suffered the loss to fall to 6-7 on the season. Streigle pitched 4 1/3 innings and was tagged for 10 hits and seven runs (all earned). She struck out two Hornet batters.
 
GAME TWO
Lillie Filger tallied her second four-hit performance of the season, while Hayden Simmons and Breck Dickey combined to stymie the Hornet hitters for a 2-1 Bearcat victory.
 
Simmons worked the first three innings and allowed two hits and one unearned run. Simmons struck out three Hornets.
 
Dickey moved to 4-5 with the win as she pitched four one-hit innings and did not allow a run. Dickey walked three and struck out one. Dickey gained her 33rd career victory.
 
ESU used a bunt single in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead.
 
Filger led the Bearcat offense with four of their nine hits. Filger singled through the left side in the third and Annie Gahan was able to score on an error by the Hornet left fielder Lexi Williams.
 
Gahan came through with her second hit of the game in the fourth that scored Grace Lubben for what proved to be the game-winning run.
 
Dickey worked out of a one-out bases-loaded jam in the fifth but got a strikeout and lineout to end the ESU scoring threat.
 
The Bearcats cut down the tying run with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Dickey then got ESU's Alexis Dial to pop up to end the game.
 
Northwest will be in action again Tuesday at home against William Jewell. The doubleheader will get underway at 1 p.m. at the Bearcat Softball Field.