MARYVILLE, Mo. — The Northwest Missouri State University softball team set a school record Friday by winning its 12th straight game in a doubleheader sweep of MSU Moorhead.
The Bearcats (20-5 overall) posted a 1-0 walk-off win in game one and then recorded a come-from-behind 3-2 triumph in the second contest. MSU Moorhead dropped to 2-21 on the season.
In the first game, the decisive run was scored in the bottom of the seventh inning, sealing the win for Northwest. The game was scoreless through the first inning, despite
Mackenzie Mlnarik and
Omara Love hitting singles and leaving three runners on base. In the fourth inning,
Curstin Todd doubled to center field, advancing
Cora Schweitzer to third, but Schweitzer was caught stealing home, keeping the score tied at 0-0.
The seventh inning proved crucial for the Bearcats.
Emma Hague singled through the right side and stole second base, followed by Mlnarik executing a sacrifice to advance Hague to third. Love then singled up the middle, driving in Hague for the game's only run. The win was Northwest's 11th consecutive victory.
Jadyn Streigle delivered an outstanding performance for Northwest, pitching a complete game shutout against MSU Moorhead. Streigle allowed only two hits over 7.0innings while recording two strikeouts and maintaining a WHIP of 0.57. Her efficiency was notable, throwing 87 pitches with 60 strikes, and inducing 17 groundouts. This win improved Streigle's record to 9-1 for the season. Streigle has gained the win in seven consecutive starts.
In the second game, Northwest again faced a challenge. The home team tied the game at 1–1 in the fifth inning when
Omara Love singled to right center, driving in
Alexis Brown. The Dragons briefly regained the lead with a run in the sixth, making the score 2–1. However, the Bearcats responded with two crucial runs in the same inning. Pinch runner
Karine Morrison scored on a wild pitch, and
Curstin Todd brought in another run with a fielder's choice as she hit a ground ball to second and
Sara Farlow beat the throw home, putting Northwest ahead 3–2.
In the seventh inning,
Olivia Moyer pitched effectively to secure the victory, holding the Dragons scoreless. The key play in the top of the seventh was an out at the plate that began with
Alexis Brown fielding a single to right. Brown hit Farlow with a cutoff throw and Farlow wheeled and tossed the ball to the plate so
Timber Wilson could tag MSU Moorhead Teagan Pranchke for the second out of the inning. Moyer got MSU Moorhead's Courtney Locke to line out to Brown in right for the final out. It was Moyer's second save of the season.
Rien Moore delivered a strong performance, pitching 6.0 innings with seven strikeouts while allowing only three hits and an earned run. Moore faced 26 batters, issuing 5 walks and maintaining a WHIP of 1.33. Moyer provided effective relief, pitching 1 inning without allowing a hit and striking out 1, securing the save with a WHIP of 1.00. Moore improved to 7-0 in the circle this season.
Emma Hague led the team in the second game with three hits, including a triple, and also stole a base.
Timber Wilson contributed with two hits and executed a successful sacrifice bunt. Love recorded an RBI, adding a hit in her four at-bats.
Northwest Missouri State's record stands at 19-5, while Minnesota State University Moorhead falls to 2-20. Up next for the Bearcats is a matchup against Augustana on Wednesday, March 18, at noon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
NOTES: The previous school record for most consecutive wins came when Northwest won 11 in a row from March 29-April 9 in 2006 ... Northwest is 9-1 in one-run games and have collected four walk-off victories this season.
