The Missouri Western softball team scored 26 runs and had 21 hits run ruling Northwest Missouri State and Central Oklahoma on the first day of the MIAA Touranament.

Tiffany Gillaspy hit a three run walk-off homer against Northwest in a 16-7 victory while Sydney Washington blasted a walk-off three run homer in the 6th in a 10-1 victory over Central Oklahoma.

The Griffons will take on Northeastern State at 3:00 pm in the winners bracket and it’ll air live on ESPN 1550 and here on StJosephpost.com. The winner will advance to the MIAA Tournament Championship while the loser has to play again at 5:00 pm.

Game 1
MWSU 16
NWMSU 7 (6 innings)

Missouri Western racked up 14 hits as they earned a first round victory over Northwest Missouri. Northwest Missouri also added 11 hits in a game that saw plenty of offense.

For The Griffons Gillaspy homered going three for five and driving in five runs. Bre Fleshner also homered and scored three runs while Michelle Stevenson also added three runs batted in. Jackie Bishop came on to get the win pitching three innings and striking out two. She improved to 22-8 in the victory.

Game 2
MWSU 10
UCO 1 (6 innings)

Missouri Western put up four first inning runs and did not look back as they advanced to winners bracket semi-final. MWSU added six runs in the sixth inning icing the game.

Sydney Washington was one for three with three runs driven in, a home run and two runs scored. Kat Steponovich added two RBI and Katie Klosterman had two runs scored going two for three on the night. Emily Ditmore had the lone UCO run driven in by Hannah Justus. Bishop pitched six strong innings allowing just five hits and striking out eight. She improves to 23-8 with the victory. Bishop broke her single season record for strikeouts with 249 this season. Her old record was 243 which was set in 2012.

— MWSU Sports Information —