At the first day of the NSIC/MIAA Crossover the Northwest Missouri State softball team lost its first two games of the season falling late to Minnesota State 3-2 and were shutout by St. Cloud State 3-0.

Minnesota State Mankato rallied in the sixth inning to win 3-2. Jenna Creger received the loss after allowing the three runs. Creger’s record falls to 3-1 as the senior allowed her first runs of the season.

The only two runs of the day came from a homerun hit by Stephanie Price in the first inning. Price’s homerun scored Kristen Uthe who had reached on a single.

“It wasn’t like we were getting beat seven-nothing. We were in both games, but at the plate we weren’t,” said Head Coach Ryan Anderson.

Courtney McKelvogue picked up the complete game win for MSU scattering 10 hits and striking out 10 Bearcats.

Kelly Franks, of St. Cloud State, pitched a 3-0 shutout against the Bearcats in the second game. Franks struck out 11of the batters she faced in the game only allowing four hits.

Abbie Vitosh was credited with the loss in the game moving her record to 2-1 for the season.

Vitosh gave up two homeruns against St. Cloud, as the other run was scored off an error on a throw to third by Cantrell.

Candace Miller recorded two of the Bearcats four hits in the loss.

“We have to take care of ourselves and get back to what we know we can do,” Anderson said.

The Bearcats wrap up the weekend Saturday with tough regional match ups against Sioux Falls, Upper Iowa and Concordia-St. Paul. First pitch against USF is set for 10 a.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —