LIBERTY, Mo. — The Northwest Missouri State University softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader Saturday at William Jewell and moved its win streak to 10 in a row.
The Bearcats secured 12-5 and 6-4 victories over the Cardinals. Northwest is 18-5 overall, while William Jewell is 8-12 overall.
The Bearcats showcased a powerful offense, totaling 22 hits across both games while capitalizing on three errors by the Cardinals.
In the first game, Northwest Missouri State opened with a commanding seven-run first inning.
Emma Hague reached on an error and scored an unearned run following
Mackenzie Mlnarik's single and subsequent steal. Mlnarik also crossed home on a passed ball.
Omara Love's single set up further scoring, and walks to
Kaylee Cords and
Timber Wilson brought in two more runs.
Sara Farlow was hit by a pitch, scoring Cords, and
Curstin Todd's walk plated another. Hague capped the inning with a two-RBI single, but the Cardinals responded with two runs in their half, leaving the score at 7-2.
The offensive momentum continued in the second inning with Farlow's RBI double, while William Jewell matched with two runs, closing the gap to 8-4. The third inning saw the Bearcats extend their lead with two more runs; Hague doubled in a run, and Love's single brought Hague home, making it 10-4. A solo home run by
Jaeleigh Darnell in the fourth inning pushed the score to 11-5, with William Jewell scoring once more.
Kiara Schaub's pinch-hit single drove in Darnell in the sixth, bringing the final score to 12-5.
Jadyn Streigle won her sixth straight start to move to 8-1 on the season. She pitched 4.0 innings with five earned runs on eight hits and five strikeouts.
Olivia Moyer provided solid relief, throwing three innings without an earned run to claim the save. Offensively, Hague tallied two doubles and three RBIs, while Darnell contributed a home run and four runs scored. Farlow drove in two runs with a hit and a double, and Love added two hits and an RBI.
In the second game, the Bearcats continued their offensive prowess, taking an early lead in the first inning. Hague singled and advanced to third on Mlnarik's fielder's choice, before Farlow's RBI single allowed Hague to score.
Timber Wilson added two more runs with a single, capping the inning at 3-1. Farlow extended the lead with a solo home run in the third, making the score 4-2.
Mlnarik scored on an error in the fourth, while the Cardinals added a run, maintaining a close game at 5-3. In the fifth, Wilson's single allowed a pinch runner to score on an error, increasing the lead to 6-3. Although William Jewell managed to score once more in the seventh, Northwest Missouri State held on for a 6-4 victory.
Rien Moore pitched a complete game, allowing four earned runs on nine hits while striking out two batters. Farlow led the offense again with two hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs while scoring twice. Wilson collected three hits and added two RBIs, while Hague reached base four times, showcasing her ability to get on base.
The Bearcats will face MSU Moorhead in a home doubleheader on Friday, March 13, at noon in Maryville, Mo.
