The Missouri Western softball team split a double header on day one of the MWSU Softball Invite. The Griffons lost a close battle with Northern State 3-2 before Jackie Bishop pitched her third no hitter of the season in a 10-0 run rule victory over St. Cloud State. The Griffons improve to 16-12 overall and will take on Wayne State (Neb.) and #5 Augustana (S.D.) tomorrow at 10 am and 12 pm respectively.

Game 1
Northern State 3
Missouri Western 2

The Griffons had two errors that cost them the game against Northern State falling 3-2. Missouri Western also had just five hits and left eight runners on base. The Griffons fall to 15-12 on the season while Janie Smith falls to 5-7 on the season going all six innings giving up four hits while striking out seven.

The Griffons jumped on top of the Wolves in the bottom of the first inning when Bre Fleschner nailed her second home run of the season. The score stayed that way until the top of the third when Northern State used a hit and a Griffon error claiming a 2-1 lead. The Wolves got a two out double to left center by Rachel Albright to go on top.

The Griffons left runners on in every inning the rest of the way including stranding a lead off triple in the 5th by Morgan Rathmann and a lead off double by Taylor Anding in the sixth. In the seventh the Griffons got one run but stranded a runner in the first falling 3-2.

Fleschner led the Griffons with two hits in the contest. Northern State improves to 5-6 overall while Kami Smesmo picked up the victory going all seven inning with five strikeouts and four walks.

Game 2
Missouri Western 10
St. Cloud State 0 (5 innings)

In game two Bishop tossed her third no hitter of the season and fourth of her career in a 10-0 victory over the St. Cloud State Huskies. Bishop struckout 11 in the contest which included six straight at one point. She improves to 11-5 with the victory.

The Griffons pounded out 10 hits with Brooke Schaben, Tiffany Gillaspy and Michelle Stevenson all getting two apiece. Schaben had four RBI while Gillaspy added three.

The Griffons scored four runs in the second and third innings and two in the fourth. Gillaspy hit a bases clearing double in the 2nd while Fleschner hit a to RBI single in the third.

Franks got the loss for the Huskies as they fall to 4-9 on the season. It is the second time this season that the Griffons run ruled St. Cloud State.

— MWSU Sports Information —