The Northwest Missouri State softball team split in double header action Saturday against MIAA foe Fort Hays State as they took game one, 7-4, and dropped game two, 3-2, in eight innings.
The Bearcats scored quickly to begin game one as Steph Mark hit her, team leading, eighth home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning. It was a two run shot that plated Jordan Ereth who had led off the inning with a single.
FHSU was able to get on the board in the second inning off the bat of a solo home run.
Mark added her third RBI of the game in the third inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Ereth from third. Chantel Adams hit a two out single up the middle to bring in Torri Blythe and put her team up 4-1.
Another solo home run by the Tigers in the top of the fourth brought them within two.
Mark added her fourth and fifth RBI’s of the game in the bottom half of the inning with a two out single to left field.
Two runs in the top of the fifth by FHSU brought the game to 6-4.
The Bearcats added one more insurance run in the fifth when Maddie Jones knocked a solo home run over the center field wall.
Abbie Vitosh sat down the Tigers in order in the sixth, then struck out one in the seventh on her way to the complete game victory in the team’s 7-4 win. Vitosh allowed three earned runs on six hits while striking out six batters as she moved her record to 6-8 on the season.
Torri Blythe ran her way into the record books in game one as she stole her 17th base of the season. Blythe now moves to number five on the single-season stolen base chart passing graduate assistant coach, Kit Daugherty.
Northwest scored first in game two as well with Mark hitting a RBI double and Adams following with a RBI single of her own.
FHSU plated one run in the sixth and then tied it up with two out in the seventh at 2-2 before taking the lead in the top of the eighth.
The Bearcats managed to load the bases with two outs for Mark who lined out to the center fielder who made a diving catch to secure the Tigers 3-2 win.
Sarah Baldwin was handed the loss in game two as she pitched all eight innings allowing one walk, 2 earned runs and striking out six.
Northwest moves to 15-19, 8-8 on the season and will have a quick turnaround as they play host to Nebraska-Kearney Sunday. Game one is scheduled to start at noon, with game two set to follow.
— Northwest Sports Information —