The 13th ranked Missouri Western softball team opened up MIAA action with a double header sweep over the Southwest Baptist Bearcats by scores of 9-0 and 6-2. Western pounded out 27 hits improving to 17-4 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play.
Game 1: MWSU 9, SBU 0
Missouri Western opened up MIAA play with a decisive 9-0 victory in five innings over Southwest Baptist. Western scored six runs in the first three innings which included a five run third inning blowing the game open.
Western collected 14 hits with Sarah Elliot and Taylor Anding both going 3-for-3. The Griffons got on the board in the second inning when Maegan Roemmich singled leading off the inning and scored on an error by the left field after a Taylor Anding single.
In the third Western had five hits which included two doubles one by Elliot and the other by Anding which platted two Griffons. The Griffons got five hits in the inning claiming a 6-0 lead after three. Western scored two more in the fourth and one in the fifth earning its 16th victory of the season.
On the mound the Griffons got a combined two hit shutout from Jackie Bishop and Emily Moe. Bishop improved to 9-1 on the season going three innings while giving up one hit while striking out three. Moe pitched two innings giving up one hit.
Kendall Sorenson, Blair Stalder and Roemmich each had two hits and scored two runs while Anding scored twice and batted in two.
Jessica Colliver went five innings for the Bearcats giving up 14 hits and eight earned runs while striking out just one. She falls to 2-5 on the season. Jennifer Martinez and BreAnn Proctor each had a hit for SBU.
Game 2: MWSU 6, SBU 2
Freshman Tiffany Gillaspy hit her first career homerun with the score tied at two in the top of the fourth inning giving the Griffons the lead for good and sparking Western to the 6-2 victory.
Western continued where they left off in game one smashing 13 hits. Kendall Sorenson opened the game with a double down the left field line and later scored on a Stalder single to center giving Western the early 1-0 lead. The Griffons took a 2-0 lead in the second when Gillaspy singled through the left side scoring Roemmich.
SBU chipped away in the second and third scoring a run in each inning tying the score at two after three.
Western remained calm and in the third scored two runs with Gillaspy’s bomb being the big hit giving Western the 4-2 lead. Annalee Rubio regained her composure sitting the next nine Bearcats down in order.
The Griffons scored one in the fifth and one in the sixth putting the game out of reach and giving Rubio her sixth victory of the season. She improves to 6-3 overall going all seven giving up five hits and two earned runs while striking out four.
Offensively, Stalder went 3-for-4 while Roemmich, Anding, Gillaspy and Michelle Stevenson all collecting two hits. Gillaspy had three RBI while Anding scored two runs.
Jennifer Martinez went 2-for-3 in the contest for SBU. Alex Abernathey pitched four innings giving up four earned runs and seven hits. She falls to 2-1 on the season. SBU falls to 5-9 overall and 0-2 in MIAA play.
Western continutes MIAA action on Saturday, March 10 when they take on the University of Central Missouri in a double header in Warrensburg, Mo. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm from the Jennies softball field at UCM’s South Recreation Complex.
— MWSU Sports Information —