It took the second game of a double header, but the Northwest Missouri State softball team snapped a nine-game skid splitting a double header Wednesday afternoon with Rockhurst, dropping game one 9-2 before pitching a shutout in game two 6-0.

Northwest saw its record move to 12-18 on the year as a number of players returned to the normal lineup after sitting out last weekend. The Bearcats will hit the road for their final four road games of the regular season traveling to nationally ranked Central Oklahoma on Saturday and Northeastern State on Sunday.

Both teams were held scoreless in game one through five innings, before they both got on the board in the sixth inning.

Rockhurst picked up two runs in the top half before Northwest got a lead-off home run from Hailee Hendricks. After back-to-back singles Kristine Labertew picked up a two-out RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.

After a solid outing through six inning Northwest starter Morgan Brunmeier ran into trouble in the seventh. Brunmeier recorded two outs in the seventh as the trouble struck with the Hawks batting around and a three-run homer from Natalie Johnson.

The Bearcats failed to rally in the bottom of the seventh as they dropped their ninth straight.

However, game two would be all Bearcats, highlighted by a no doubt home run off the bat of Kayli Schurman in the third inning. The three-run bomb gave Northwest a 5-0 lead as Bearcat starter Paige Blythe held Rockhurst scoreless.

Schurman blasted a two-run homer in the first inning giving Northwest an early 2-0 lead. Schurman finished 2-for-3 adding five RBIs in the win.

Blythe was impressive going seven strong innings and only allowing three hits. She walked none and struck out four.

— NWMSU Sports Information —