The Missouri Western softball team wrapped up the final day of the Kelly Laas Invite Sunday with a split. The Griffons fell 3-1 against 8th ranked Augustana (SD) before earning an 11-0 run rule victory over host St. Cloud State. The Griffons improve to 10-4 on the season and return to action next weekend in Joplin, Mo. to participate in the MSSU Invite. The Griffons will take on William Jewell and Illinois-Springfield on Saturday, March 1 at noon and 4 pm. On Sunday, March 2 they will take on Wayne State and Northern State at 9 am and 1 pm.

Game 1
#8 Augustana 3
Missouri Western 1

The Griffons looked to have everything in control against the 8th ranked Vikings holding a 1-0 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth. Jackie Bishop was throwing a no hitter until the sixth when the Vikings got three hits including a homer giving the Vikings the 3-1 victory.

The Griffons got on the board first in the 2nd inning when Brooke Schaben singled to right center advanced to second on a wild pitch and socred on a Kat Steponovich two out single up the middle giving the Griffons the 1-0 lead after two innings.

The score stayed that way until bottom of the sixth when the Vikings broke up the no hitter with back-to-back singles by Emily Heinz and Maddie Merriam to lead off the inning. Abby Chandler grounded out to first and Heinz scored on a throwing error by Tiffany Gillaspy tying the game at one. Merriam then scored on a Caitlin Nichol sac fly to left field which was followed up by a Sarah Kennedy homer giving the Vikings the 3-1 lead after six innings.

In the bottom of the 7th Schaben led off the inning with a single to first base but got stranded as strikeouts by Anding and Steponovich and a pop up to first base by Sydney Washington ended the game.

Bishop falls to 6-2 with the loss giving up three hits and just one earned run while striking out five. Schaben got two of the Griffons four hits in the contest.

The Vikings Jenelle Trautmann picked up the victory for the Vikings going all seven innings giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out seven and walking two. She improves to 5-1 on the season while the Vikings improve to 7-2 with the victory.

Game 2
Missouri Western 11
St. Cloud State 0 (5 innings)

The Griffons pounded out 11 hits and used a four run third inning and a six run fourth inning claiming an 11-0 five inning victory over the St. Cloud State Huskies. The Griffons got multiple hits from Bre Fleschner, Tiffany Gillaspy, Steponovich and Washington.

The Griffons stranded back-to-back hits in the top of the first inning by Fleschner and Rathman but in the second they were able to get on the board. The Griffons used walks from Janie Smith and Steponovich to get things going. Smith scored on an error by the shortstop giving the Griffons a 1-0 lead after two.

In the third the Griffons used three two out hits including an Taylor Anding single scoring Gillaspy from second and a Steponovich double scoring Smith and Anding. Washington followed the double with a single to right field scoring Steponovich giving the Griffons the 5-0 lead.

In the 4th the bats stayed hot with six hits. Fleschner led off with a double which was followed by a Gillaspy single. Both players scored on a Schaben single to left field giving the Griffons a 7-0 lead. After another walk by Smith, Steponovich stepped to the plate hitting a single down the left field line scoring Schaben and Smith extending the Griffons lead to 9-0. Washington was the next batter and she blasted her first career homer putting the Griffons up 11-0 after four.

That would be all Smith would need as she gave up just one more hit in the final two innings pitching the complete game. Smith improves to 4-2 on the season.

Steponovich finished the game with four RBI and two runs scored while Washington finished with three RBI and one run scored.

The Huskies fall to 2-2 on the season as Kendra Merritt picked up the loss going just three innings giving up six hits and four earned runs while striking out four. Two of the Huskies three hits came in the first inning when Tricia DeBoer and Abby Bunnell led of the game with back-to-back singles.

— MWSU Sports Information —