ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Northwest Missouri State University softball team dropped a pair of games at the Hawkins-McGhee Memorial Tournament at Langston Field Friday.
Ouachita Baptist moved to 2-0 on the season with a 5-4 win over Northwest. The Bearcats then dropped a 6-1 decision to Christian Brothers to fall to 0-2 on the year.
OUACHITA BAPTIST 5, NORTHWEST 4
The Bearcats began the season with a 5-4 walk-off loss at Ouachita Baptist. Northwest had a 3-0 lead but had to rally in the seventh to tie the game before Ouachita notched a walk-off victory.
In the top of the first, leadoff hitter
Lillie Filger reached on an error that should have been an infield single to third, to begin the game.
Alexis Brown looked to bunt and advance Filger, but Brown beat it out for an infield single to third. Following a flyout by
Omara Love,
Timber Wilson connected on a three-run homer to left field to give the Bearcats a 3-0 lead only four batters into the contest. It was Wilson's first career hit and homer after getting five at-bats last year without a hit.
The Tigers battled back to tie the game at 3-3 with three runs in the bottom of the third. An error by
Annie Gahan at third base allowed one of the runs to score as an unearned tally.
Ouachita gained a 4-3 advantage in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly.
Northwest looked to score in the top of the fifth with two runners in scoring position and less than two outs. Filger and Brown each singled with one out and moved up to second and third on a passed ball. However, Love grounded out to the pitcher and Wilson struck out to end the threat.
The Bearcat bats came alive again in the top of the seventh. Filger slapped a single to left, her third hit of the game, and reached as the potential tying run. Brown popped out to center field setting the stage for a two-out rally. Love came through by lacing a double off the wall in left-center field to score Filger from first and knot the game, 4-4.
Ouachita looked to close out the game in the bottom of the seventh, but a stellar defensive play helped keep the Tigers at bay. Bella Roseberry led off the seventh with a double to the wall in center. Roseberry moved to third on a sac bunt. The Tigers looked to win it on a suicide squeeze play but was stymied by the Bearcat defense.
Skylar Pieper came rushing in from first and flipped to catcher
Gaige Pinkerton to get Roseberry out at the plate. However, after the Bearcat defensive stand, Ouachita was able to string together back-to-back two-out hits to score the walk-off win, 5-4.
Filger went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Brown went 2-for-3 with a run.
Jadyn Streigle started in the circle and went four innings. Streigle allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits. Streigle struck out four and walked one.
Cassidy Paulson took the loss as she came in in relief in the fifth inning. Paulson allowed three hits and one run with one strikeout.
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS 6, NORTHWEST 1
Christian Brothers tallied a 6-1 victory over the Bearcats in Northwest's second game of the day.
CBU used a one-out walk, stolen base and double in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead.
Northwest drew even in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly from
Avery Mayberry.
Skylar Pieper walked to begin the inning. Pieper stole second and moved to third on an error when CBU catcher Kate Candies's throw got away. Mayberry lifted a fly ball to right field that allowed Pieper to scamper across the plate and tie the game, 1-1.
The Bucs answered with two runs on an RBI double and a passed ball to take a 3-1 advantage over the Bearcats. Christian Brothers extended its lead to 6-1 after left fielder Summer Alexander launched a one-out three-run homer in the sixth.
Olivia Moyer took the loss as she pitched five innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits. Moyer struck out three batters and walked three.
Kylee Rockhold pitched the sixth inning and allowed three runs on one hit with a strikeout.
Lillie Filger extended her hitting streak to eight games dating back to the 2024 season as she went 2-for-4 with a double against Christian Brothers. Filger had a hit in the final six games of the 2024 season and recorded a hit in each of the games today. Filger has recorded 151 hits in three seasons as a Bearcat.
