MARYVILLE, Mo. — The Northwest Missouri State University softball team managed a split of a soggy doubleheader Saturday against the No. 10-ranked Missouri Southern Lions.

The doubleheader started at 3 p.m. after morning rains caused a delay. The Lions picked up the win in game one, 6-1. Northwest bounced back with a two-out, four-run rally in the fifth inning to record a 5-2 triumph.

Northwest is 28-13 overall and 8-8 in MIAA action. Missouri Southern is 36-6 overall and 11-3 in league play.

GAME ONE
The Bearcats managed only two hits while the Lions capitalized with a four-run second inning. Northwest took an early lead in the first inning when Mackenzie Mlnarik scored an unearned run after reaching third on a groundout and crossing the plate on a shortstop error, putting the Bearcats ahead 1-0. However, the Lions responded in the second inning, scoring four runs thanks to a wild pitch and a series of walks. Carsen Tinkler scored on the wild pitch, and subsequent hits and a walk brought in Emily Perry, Easton Walter, and Cady Dickey, giving Missouri Southern a 4-1 lead.

The Lions extended their lead in the third inning with a run-scoring double by Dickey, making it 5-1. The score remained unchanged through the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings as both teams' defenses held strong. In the seventh inning, the Lions added a solo home run by Katie Gray, concluding the game at 6-1.

Rien Moore started for the Bearcats, pitching 2 innings and allowing 4 earned runs on 2 hits, while Erika Gore took over in relief for 5 innings, conceding 2 earned runs on 7 hits, including 1 home run. Mlnarik notched one run and a stolen base, while Emma Hague and Timber Wilson each recorded a hit.

GAME TWO
Northwest secured a 5-2 victory, highlighted by a decisive four-run fifth inning. Missouri Southern took an early lead when Emily Perry scored on a single by Cady Dickey, making it 1-0 after the second inning. Jaeleigh Darnell tied the game for Northwest in the third inning with a solo home run, bringing the score to 1-1.

The fifth inning was pivotal for the Bearcats, starting with Darnell's walk that led to pinch-runner Cora Schweitzer advancing on a bunt single by Alexis Brown. Kaylee Cords then drove in two runs with a two-out single, followed by Timber Wilson doubling to bring in two more, resulting in a 5-1 lead for Northwest after the fifth inning. Missouri Southern managed one more run in the seventh inning when Perry scored on an error, but it was insufficient to overcome the Bearcats' advantage.

Jadyn Streigle delivered a complete-game performance for Northwest, pitching 7.0 innings while allowing seven hits and two runs, with only one of those runs earned. Cords and Wilson each contributed significantly with one hit and two RBIs, while Darnell added a solo home run, her team-leading eighth four-bagger of the season.

The Bearcats will travel to face Emporia State on Friday, April 17, at 2 p.m. in Emporia, Kan., to resume MIAA doubleheader play.