MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State University softball squad dropped the opener but came back to take the second game in Saturday doubleheader action against the Washburn University Ichabods on Senior Day.
 
Washburn held on to win game one, 5-3, and Northwest thumped the Ichabods in game two in five innings, 9-1.
 
Northwest is 18-25 overall and 8-14 in MIAA play. Washburn is 28-18 overall and 11-9 in league action.
 
GAME ONE
Washburn built a 5-0 lead by taking advantage of rare Northwest fielding errors and held on for a 5-3 win.
 
The Ichabods broke through in the third inning of a scoreless game by putting up two runs against Bearcat starting pitcher Erika Gore.
 
Gore was removed from the game after three batters into the fourth inning. Both of Gore's inherited runners would score on Bearcat reliever Olivia Moyer. Moyer would also allow a run to score giving Washburn a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning.
 
Northwest was limited to one hit in the first four innings – a first-inning single by Alexis Brown. With two outs in the fifth, No. 9 hitter Curstin Todd singled to right to begin a rally. Lillie Filger kept the inning alive with a single. Brown then delivered her second hit of the game, a triple to right-center that scored both Todd and Filger to slice the Washburn lead to 5-2.
 
Northwest went down in order in the sixth, but was able to fight back in the seventh with the help of two Washburn errors.
 
Gaige Pinkerton led off the seventh with a double. She moved to third when Riahn Pinkerton reached on an error. Todd lined out to second. Filger reached on the second error of the inning and pinch runner Avery Mayberry crossed the plate to cut the Washburn lead to 5-3. Filger stole second before Brown notched her third hit of the game – a bunt single that loaded the bases. Omara Love struck out for the second out and Skylar Pieper flied out to right to end the game.
 
Brown accounted for three of Northwest's six hits and both of team's RBIs. Gore took the loss in the circle to fall to 1-3 on the season. Cassidy Paulson pitched a scoreless seventh to keep the Bearcats in the game.
 
GAME TWO
Northwest gained a 9-1, five-inning victory over Washburn in the second game as the Ichabods made three errors.
 
Jaydn Streigle pitched a complete game and gave up her only run of the contest in the fifth inning. Streigle allowed five hits and one run as she struck out five Ichabod batters.
 
Northwest took advantage of Washburn shortstop Ellington Hogle's two errors in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. The Bearcats put together three hits and scored four unearned runs in the second stanza.
 
The Bearcats added three more in the third that was finished off with a two-run triple by Alexis Brown to give Northwest a 7-0 advantage.
 
Washburn scored on a sacrifice fly in the fifth to cut the lead to 7-1.
 
However, Northwest scored the run-rule victory when Brown singled to left center to score Curstin Todd and Lillie Filger for the 9-1 triumph.
 
Brown went 2-for-4 with a run scored and four RBI. Skylar Pieper also knocked in two runs. Gaige Pinkerton had a two-hit day along with Filger and Brown.Todd scored three runs in the five-inning victory from the No. 9 hole in the order.
 
NOTES: Alexis Brown went 5-for-8 in the doubleheader with two triples and six RBI … Brown has seven multi-RBI games this year … Lillie Filger has 20 multi-hit games this season and leads the team in batting average (.393) … Skylar Pieper is the team leader in RBI (31) … Filger has stolen a team-best 16 bases … Brown is second on the squad with 15 thefts … Brown ranks second on the squad with four triples this season … Northwest honored its eight seniors following the game … Lillie Filger (Liberty, Mo.), Annie Gahan (Iowa City, Iowa), Grace Lubben (Anamosa, Iowa), Cassidy Paulson (Arvada, Colo.), Skylar Pieper (Roca, Neb.), Gaige Pinkerton (Spring Hill, Kan.), Kylee Rockhold (Allerton, Iowa), Marleigh Thurman (Lindale, Texas).