SHAWNEE, Kan. - The Northwest Missouri State University softball team was able to gain a split on day one of the Midwest College Classic.

Northwest dropped its opener to Rockhurst, 6-3. The Bearcats bounced back with a strong performance in game two with a throttling of Southwest Baptist, 15-1.

ROCKHURST 6, NORTHWEST 3
Rockhurst recorded its second straight win over Northwest after posting a 3-2 win last weekend in Topeka, Kan.

Northwest starter Cassidy Paulson gave up a solo homer in the second inning as the Hawks took a 1-0 lead. 

Rockhurst added another run in the third as the Hawks used two hits to a take a 2-0 advantage. 

Northwest got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Skylar Pieper and Gaige Pinkerton reached base to start the inning. Rhian Pinkerton drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Mackenzie Mlnarik delivered a sac fly to left field to plate Pieper to slice the Rockhurst lead to 2-1.

Rockhurst pushed the margin to 5-1 by stringing together four hits for three runs in the top of the sixth. 

The Bearcats up a two-spot in the sixth when Mlnarik drove in her second run of the game with a double. Lillie Filger served up an RBI-single to left to leave the Bearcats trailing, 5-3.

The Hawks tallied an insurance run in the seventh on a double, stolen base and sac fly. 

Filger, Gaige Pinkerton and Malia Cuevas each recorded two hits against Rockhurst. 

Paulson took the loss as she pitched five innings and gave up six hits and four runs.

NORTHWEST 15, SOUTHWEST BAPTIST 1 (6 INN.)
Northwest registered 17 hits en route to a 15-1, six-inning victory over Southwest Baptist.

Lillie Filger put up four hits and three runs in six at bats. Alexis Brown, Omara Love, Timber Wilson, Riahn Pinkerton and Curstin Todd each tallied two hits in the 14-run victory.

Brown, Kaylee Cords and Todd ripped doubles in the contest.

Rien Moore got the win to move to 4-0 as she allowed two hits and one run in four innings. Erika Gore worked the final two innings and allowed one hit.