The Missouri Western softball team used the long ball extending their winning streak to 12 games defeating the Pittsburg State Gorillas 3-1 and 4-3 on Saturday afternoon. With the win in game one Jackie Bishop became the Griffons all-time leader in victories with 61. She passed Dana Wertz who had 60 career wins from 2004-2007. Also, the victory in game one was Coach Bagley’s 400th career victory. The Griffons are 24-8 overall and 8-2 in MIAA play.

Game 1
MWSU 3, PSU 1

In game on the Griffons got another strong pitching performance from Bishop as she went all seven innings giving up five hits while striking out 10. She improves to 12-3 on the season with the victory.

The two teams played scoreless softball until the top of the 5th inning when the Griffons scratched across two runs. The inning started with singles by Maegan Roemmich and Taylor Anding. Sarah Elliott hit a sacrifice fly scoring Roemmich from third and the Bre Fleschner singled in Anding giving MWSU the 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth the Gorillas cut the Griffon lead in half when Kreslee Ketcham led off the inning with a homer. The Griffons responded in the top of the 7th when Roemmich hit her fifth homer of the giving MWSU the 3-1 lead. Bishop got the Gorillas go down in order in the seventh for the victory.

The Griffons had eight hits with Fleschner and Roemmich both getting two. Roemmich scored two runs in the contest.

Kyndel Shelburn got the loss for PSU falling to 6-5 on the season. She went all seven giving up eight hits and three earned runs. PSU had five hits with Ketcham getting two.

Game 2
MWSU 4, PSU 3

In game two the Griffons got out of numerous jams stranding eight PSU runners on base which included the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth inning. Things started quick for the Griffons with Tiffany Gillaspy hitting her 6th homer of the season giving MWSU the 3-0 lead.

The Gorillas answered right back when Ketcham hit her second homer of the day cutting the MWSU lead to 3-2 after one. Things stayed that way until the top of the third when Keri Lorbert hit her 10th homer of the season giving MWSU the 4-2 lead.

The score remained 4-2 until the bottom of the 6th. PSU led off the inning with a homer to right field by McKenzie Rynard. Despite loading the bases relief pitcher Bishop struck out the side getting out of trouble.

In the bottom of the 7th Ketcham led off with a single and then Bishop struck out Tiffany Brown and got Rynard to hit into the double play dropping the Gorillas to 17-15 overall and 5-7 in MIAA play.

The Griffons had just five hits with Lorbert getting two. She is now two homer away from tying the career record. She had 35 and the career record is 37 held by Amy Beverly (2004-2007). Janie Smith improved to 12-3 going four innings giving up five hits and two earned runs while striking out five. Bishop picked up her third save of the season going three innings giving up six hits and striking out six.

The Gorillas had 11 hits with Jordan Bradshaw, Ketcham and Catie Cummins all getting two. Kylie Harpst fell to 3-3 going five innings giving up five hits and three earned runs.

The Griffons will return to action on Friday, April 5 when they travel to Hays, Kan. to take on the Fort Hays State Tigers in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —