The Northwest Missouri State softball team took on Lindenwood Saturday in a double-header losing game one 10-6, but came back to win game two 5-3 in walk-off fashion in extra innings.
Northwest scored early as they plated three runs in the bottom of the first off the bat of Hailee Hendricks who hit a three run home run over the right field fence.
The Lions were able to get two runs in the top of the second before the Bearcats added a run of their own in the bottom half. Hendricks knocked in Candace Miller who had moved into scoring position after stealing second base to put her team up 4-2.
Lindenwood went up on Northwest after a six run fifth inning. The Bearcats came back to score two runs in the bottom half of the inning when Rachel Schmitz plated Kylie Cantrell and Tori Beckman on a single to left field.
The Lions added two more in the sixth and the Bearcats were unable to counter as they dropped game one 10-6. The Northwest offense left 10 runners on base throughout the game.
Jenna Creger was tagged with the loss moving her record to 9-7.
Abbie Vitosh took to the circle in game two for Northwest collecting her seventh win of the season. Vitosh threw all 8.0 innings giving up only four hits and striking out, a season high, eight batters.
Both offenses were quiet through the first two innings before the Bearcats opened it up in the third inning. Schmitz was able to get the first run of the game as she scored on a wild pitch. Miller then knocked in Jordan Ereth on a single to go up 2-0.
The Lions tied it up after scoring one run in the fourth and another run in the fifth.
The game remained tied going into the bottom of the eighth. Stephanie Price reach first on an error by the first baseman. Kristine Labertew also reached on an error putting runners on first and second base for Kylie Cantrell. Cantrell deposited a pitch over the center field wall for the walk-off three run home run giving her team the 5-2 victory.
Northwest improves to 20-12, 8-8 on the season. The Bearcats will host Truman State Sunday for a double-header. Game times have been changed to a 10 a.m. start for game one with game two set to follow.
— NWMSU Sports Information —