Missouri Western softball went 2-0 on day one of the Hurry Up Classic defeating Henderson State 5-1 and Ouachita Baptist 1-0 in eight innings. The Griffons used two complete games by pitchers Jackie Bishop and Janie Smith to get the victories. On the afternoon Bre Fleschner went 3-for-7 with a run scored while Tiffany Gillaspy went 3-for-6 with a run scored.
Game 1
Missouri Western 5, Henderson State 1
In their 2014 season opener the Missouri Western softball team pounded out 10 hits and used a strong pitching performance from senior Bishop picking up the 5-1 victory over Henderson State.
The Griffons were able to get two players on in the top of the first but stranded Bre Fleschner and Tiffany Gillaspy at third and second. In the third the Griffons opened the scoring when Fleschner singled to shortstop and later scored on a Brooke Schaben double to left center.
The Reddies answered in the bottom of the third when Tricia Hock homered to left field tying the score at one.
The rest of the game belonged to Bishop and the Griffons. In the fourth Kailey Green blasted the first homer of her career to center field which was followed up by a Taylor Anding bomb to left field giving the Griffons the 3-1 lead after four.
In the 5th Anding struck again with two outs, hitting a two run single scoring Sydney Washington and Gillaspy pushing the Missouri Western led to 5-1.
That is all Bishop needed going all seven innings giving up five hits while striking out nine. She improves to 1-0 with the victory.
Fleschner went 3-for-4 with one run scored while Gillaspy and Anding each had two hits. Anding finished with three RBI and one run scored.
The Reddies fall to 2-3 on the season as five different players got a hit in the game. Ashlyn White falls to 0-1 on the season going 3.2 innings giving up six hits and three earned runs while striking out two.
Game 2
Missouri Western 1, Ouachita Baptist 0 (8 Innings)
Sophomore pitcher Janie Smith pitched an outstanding game picking up an eight hit 1-0 extra inning shutout against the Ouachita Baptist Tigers. Smith struck out two Tigers and and got a game ending ground out with the bases loaded in the 8th inning picking up the victory.
The Griffons got just three hits in the game with Morgan Rathmann, Gillaspy and Kat Stephonovich all getting a hit. Missouri Western scored the game winning run in the top of the 8th inning with the international tie breaker. Washington was put on second and stole third. Smith walked and pinch runner Taylor Schaben stole second putting runners on second and third with no one out. With one out Steponovich hit a sacrifice fly scoring Washington.
In the bottom half of the inning Smith loaded the bases on back-to-back walks but buckled down getting back-to-back strikeouts before getting the game ending ground out. She struck out six in her second shutout of her career. Here first was on March 16, 2013 when the Griffons beat Southwest Baptist 8-0.
The Tigers fall to 1-2 on the season. Macy Nantz led the way going 3-for-3 with two doubles while Teresa Mursuli went 2-for-4. Abbi Frakes went eight innings giving up just three hits while striking out five. She falls to 1-2 with the loss.
The Griffons return to action on Saturday, February 8 with two games. The Griffons will take on Cameron University at 9 am at Ouachita Baptist and Arkansas Tech at 1 pm at Henderson State.
— MWSU Sports Information —