The Missouri Western softball team struggled offensively at the UAM Seven State Classic going 1-1 on the final day. The Griffons hit just .235 on the day defeating Oklahoma Christian 6-4 and falling against Southern Arkansas 3-2. After two weekends of play the Griffons are 7-3 overall.
Game 1
MWSU 6, Oklahoma Christian 4
In game one against Oklahoma Christian the Griffons used a big fifth inning scoring five runs with four coming off the bat of senior center fielder Maegan Roemmich giving MWSU a 6-2 lead.
Griffon relief pitcher Janie Smith gave up a run in the sixth and one in the seventh but was able to get the victory. She pitched 2.2 innings giving up four hits, two earned runs and striking out three. Starting pitcher Jackie Bishop went 4.1 innings giving up five hits with three strikeouts.
Oklahoma Christian took the early 1-0 lead in the third inning when Kendra Pierce double in Sarah Peoples. The Griffons tied the score in their half of the third when Sarah Elliott singled and scored on a single by Bre Fleschner.
OCU regained the lead in the 5th when Peoples doubled to right field and scored on an error by the Griffons right fielder. The next half inning would be the Griffons big inning. With two outs Fleschner walked, Stevenson singled, Gillaspy singled scoring Fleschner tying the score at two. Lorbert would reach on an error by the third baseman and Roemmich stepped to the plate blasting a grand slam.
Fleschner and Roemmich both had two hits in the contest while Sorensen walked twice.
Oklahoma Christian falls to 4-4 on the season as Danielle Collins falls to 0-1 on the season. Collins went 4.2 innings giving up six hits and two earned runs. Peoples had three of OCU’s nine hits while Pierce had two.
Game 2
Southern Arkansas 3, MWSU 2
In game two the Griffons were held to just one hit through five innings of play. The Lady Riders plated one in the first and one in the second inning claiming a 2-0 lead.
The lead remained 2-0 until the sixth inning when Elliott and Stevenson hit doubles and Stevenson tied the game advancing on a first and third situation.
It looked as if the Griffons were going to get out of the 7th unharmed as Brooke Schaben got the first two batters. On the third batter of the inning she made a fielding error which allowed SAU to get a double down the right field line taking the 3-2 lead.
MWSU threatened in the bottom of the 7th when Schaben singled and advanced to second on an Taylor Anding ground out. Elliott would single to center field but Schaben would get thrown out at the plate ending the game.
MWSU had five hits with Elliott collecting two. Schaben falls to 0-2 on the season going all seven striking out six and giving up two earned runs.
Southern Arkansas improves to 5-8 on the season. Hanna Gill went all seven giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out five. SAU had six hits with two by Lauren Witzke. The also had nine runner left on base.
The Griffons return to action on Thursday, February 21 when they take on Western Oregon and University of Hawaii at Hilo in Hilo, Hawaii. Game times are set for 2:00 pm and 4:15 pm CST.
— MWSU Sports Information —