MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State University softball team became the first MIAA program to shut out the No. 9-ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas in earning a split of a doubleheader Friday at the Bearcat Softball Field.

Pittsburg State posted a 3-0 win in the first game, but the Bearcats used a two-hit gem from senior Breck Dickey to score a 5-0 win in game two.

Northwest is 21-23 overall and 10-10 in MIAA play. Pittsburg State is 43-5 overall and 17-3 in MIAA action.

GAME ONE
Pittsburg State freshman starting pitcher Ava Laurent tossed a two-hit shutout as she moved to 16-1 on the season.

The Gorillas banged out seven hits and scored an unearned run in the third before adding single tallies in the fourth and sixth innings to account for their three runs.

Bearcat starting pitcher Jadyn Streigle allowed three runs (two earned) and struck out two batters.

Omara Love and Lauren Gray each singled for the Bearcats. Sara Farlow drew a two-out seventh inning walk for Northwest's only other base runner in the contest.

GAME TWO
Breck Dickey struck out five and pitched a two-hit shutout for her 34th career victory.

Dickey allowed a leadoff single in the first and a one-out single in the sixth for PSU's only two hits. Dickey walked a batter and hit another as the Gorillas had four total baserunners and not more than one on in any inning.

Northwest's offense all came in the second inning with a five-run outburst. Northwest pounded out six hit and five runs in the second as it chased PSU starter Kiana Pogroszewski with one out in the second. Pogroszewski was hit with her second loss of the season as she fell to 14-2.

Omara Love led off the second with a single. Sophie Mayhugh drew a walk. Annie Gahan ripped an RBI single that scored Love for the first run of the game. Lillie Filger singled to load the bases. Grace Pinkerton delivered a two-run single to make it 3-0. Lauren Gray came through with a sacrifice fly that scored Filger and put Northwest on top, 4-0. Abby Nolte ripped a two-out, RBI single that plated Grace Lubben, who entered as a pinch runner, for a 5-0 advantage.

Dickey set down 10 consecutive Gorilla batters in the second through fifth innings. Dickey allowed only one runner to reach third base when PSU's Hannah Burnett got there with two outs in the sixth. Dickey got PSU's Hannah Fernandez to fly out to right to end the sixth.

Dickey worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning to gain the win and move to 5-5 on the season.

Northwest will honor six seniors on Saturday following its home doubleheader against Missouri Southern. First pitch is slated for noon.