The Missouri Western softball team split a pair of games with 20th ranked Winona State Wednesday. The Griffons lost a heart breaker in game one 2-1 in eight innings before picking up a 4-0 victory in game two.

Western was led by Jackie Bishop as she pitched all 14 inings picking up 18 strike outs on the day. She sits at 10-5 overall while the Griffons are 15-11. The Griffons return to action this weekend hosting the MWSU Softball Invitational. The Griffons open up play on Friday, March 21 with games against Northern State University and St. Cloud State University. Game times are set for 12 pm and 2 pm respectively.

Game 1
WSU 2
MWSU 1

The Griffon softball team lost a heartbreaker in game one falling 2-1 in eight innings against #20 Winona State University. The Griffons outhit the Warriors five to four but could not get the big hit when they needed it.

Jackie Bishop gave up just four hits while striking out a season high 12 batters. She did give up a home run in a triple that cost the Griffons. She falls to 9-5 on the season with the loss.

The Warriors took the lead in the top of the second inning when Morgan Lintz blasted her second home run of the season.

The Griffons tied it up in the fourth as Kailey Green and Taylor Anding led off the inning with singles. Shelby Elliott pinch ran for Green and scored on a ground out by Katie Klosterman tying the score at one after four innings.

The score stayed that way until the top of the 8th. They used the international tie breaker putting a runner on second to start the inning. Bishop got the first two hitters out but then a triple by Brooke Piotrowski gave Winona State the 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the inning Michelle Stevenson was put on second and Morgan Rathmann led off by popping up a bunt to the catcher. Stevenson got out trying to advance to third on a fielders choice to shortstop by Bre Fleschner. Brooke Schaben singled to right center putting runners on first and third before Tiffany Gillaspy grounded out to second base ending the game.

Ashley Walker picked up the victory for the Warriors going all eight innings giving up five hits with three strikeouts. Piotrowski had two hits and an RBI.

Five different Griffons got hits in game one with Klosterman getting an RBI.

Game 2
MWSU 4
WSU 0

In game two the Griffons jumped on top in the first inning when Gillaspy drove in Fleschner who led the game off with a single to right field. After one the Griffons led 1-0.

In the third inning the Griffons used the long ball scoring three more runs. Freshman Morgan Rathmann led the inning off with her first career home run. Three batters later Gillaspy nailed her 6th homer of the year giving the Griffons the 4-0 lead after three innings of play.

That was all Bishop would need as she struck out six batter and gave up just five hits. Gillaspy drove in three runs for the Griffons while Fleschner scored two runs.

Hanna Lythberg went all six innings for the Warriors giving up five hits and four earned runs. She falls to 8-1 on the year while the Warriors fall to 17-3. Lintz led the way with two of Winona State’s five hits.

— MWSU Sports Information —