The Missouri Western softball team won the first game of the MIAA Tournament in dramatic fashion on a walk off homer by Kendall Sorenson in the bottom of seventh giving Western a 2-0 victory. In game two gainst Fort Hays State the Griffons left seven runners on base falling 2-1. They drop to 39-10 on the season and will take on Washburn at 11:00 am tomorrow morning.
Game 1: MWSU 2, NWMSU 0
Missouri Western junior center fielder Kendall Sorenson came up big at the end of game one of the MIAA Tournament against rival Northwest Missouri State. After a lead off double in the top of the 7th by Northwest, Sorenson caught a line out and doubled off the runner on second getting the Griffons out of the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh with one out Kat Steponovich snapped an 0-11 streak with a single up the middle setting up the dramatics from Sorenson. Sorenson stepped to the plate blasting a walkoff homer giving Western the opening round victory. The homer was Sorenson’s first in a Griffons uniform.
Annalee Rubio pitched lights out going all seven innings giving up just two hits while striking out a career best nine. She improves to 14-7 with the victory. That also marked her 16th complete game and seventh shutout of the year.
Western had seven hits with Sarah Elliot going 3-for-3. Western left six runners on base.
Jena Creger fell to 7-10 as she went 6.1 innings giving up seven hits while striking out three. The Bearcats fall to 19-30 with the loss.
Game 2: FHSU 2, MWSU 1
The Griffons got down early against the Tigers when Maddie Hulob hit a homer off Jackie Bishop in the bottom of the first inning puting FHSU up 2-1. Western responded in the fourth getting a homer by Keri Lorbert tying the score at one after three and a half.
Unfortunatly a lead off walk by Bishop in the of the fourth came back to bite her as the Tigers got a two out hit giving them the 2-1 lead. Western had runners on in every inning after the fourth but the seventh but could not push anything across.
Jackie Bishop falls to 22-3 as she went six innings giving up four hits while striking out seven. Western has seven hits with seven different players getting hits.
Fort Hays improves to 31-17 on the season while Holub improves to 19-8.
— MWSU Sports Information —