TOPEKA, Kan. — The Northwest Missouri State University softball team showcased its dominance in the final two games at the Washburn Invitational with wins over Drury University and Minnesota State University, Mankato at Silver Lake High School on Sunday.
 
Northwest began the day's action with a 9-1 victory over Drury. The loss dropped the Panthers to 5-8. Northwest then picked up an 11-2 triumph over Minnesota State bringing the Mavericks' record to 3-7. Northwest is 11-5 on the season.
 
NORTHWEST 9, DRURY 1
In the first game against Drury, Northwest Missouri State broke the game open with a six-run second inning. Jaeleigh Darnell kicked things off with a single, followed by an Emma Hague single. Sara Farlow's double brought in Darnell, and a series of errors and singles allowed five more runs to cross the plate, leading to a 6-0 advantage by the end of the inning. The fourth inning saw Omara Love's single and subsequent stolen base set up Kaylee Cords, who drove her in with another single to extend the lead to 7-0. 
 
Drury managed to score in the fifth inning when Reece Anderson reached third on a wild pitch and then scored on a groundout. In response, Northwest added two more runs as Hague walked and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Avery Mayberry, while a throwing error allowed Farlow to score, cementing the 9-1 lead.
 
Jadyn Streigle pitched a complete game for Northwest, allowing just one earned run over 5 innings. She faced 20 batters, yielding four hits and three walks while striking out two. The pitcher recorded nine groundouts and one flyout, throwing 72 pitches with 37 strikes. Streigle improved to a 5-1 record, demonstrating effective control despite three wild pitches. Cords led the offensive effort with three RBIs and two hits, while Hague contributed by scoring two runs and stealing two bases. Farlow added two runs, hitting a double and collecting an RBI.
 
NORTHWEST 11, MINNESOTA STATE 2
In the second game against Minnesota State, Northwest Missouri State set the tone with a staggering 10-run first inning. Alexis Brown singled and advanced to third on an error, allowing Mackenzie Mlnarik to score. Darnell doubled, driving in Brown, and Hague's single brought in Kaylee Cords. Curstin Todd's single drove in Hague and Farlow, while a three-RBI double by Omara Love capped off the inning at 10-0.
 
In the fourth inning, Cora Schweitzer pinch-ran and later scored on Hague's single, bringing the total to 11-0. Minnesota State managed to score twice in the fifth inning, as Nyah Hulbert, a pinch runner, scored on a single by Paxton Dekkers, and Carly Kimmes crossed home plate following a double by Ryanne Mellum, resulting in the final score of 11-2.
 
Moore pitched a complete game against Minnesota State, allowing just two earned runs over 5 innings. She faced 19 batters, giving up only two hits and issuing two walks while striking out one. The performance improved Moore's season record to 3-0. Love recorded two hits, including a double, and drove in three runs. Todd contributed with two hits, scoring once and collecting two RBIs, while Hague added two hits with two RBIs and a stolen base.
 
Looking ahead, Northwest softball will travel to Shawnee, Kan. for the Midwest College Classic to take on MSU Moorhead on Friday, Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. with a rematch against Minnesota State to follow at 12:30 p.m.