The Missouri Western softball team finished a two-day, four-game trip to Oklahoma by dropping a pair at No. 20 Central Oklahoma. Missouri Western returns to St. Joseph with a 9-9 record and a 2-2 mark in MIAA play.

Game 1: #20 UCO 6, MWSU 3

Central Oklahoma jumped out to a 6-1 lead after just two innings and the Griffons scored two in the third to pull within three but pitching took over for the next four innings in Missouri Western’s eighth loss of the season.

UCO scored three in the first but MWSU answered with one in the second. The Bronchos added three more in their half of the second on a two-RBI double and a sacrifice fly. In the third it was the Griffons’ turn to score with Paige Shifflett driving in one on a single and Kailey Green picking up an RBI when she reached on a fielder’s choice to make the score 6-3. Janie Smith slammed the door on the Bronchos the rest of the game but Nicole Brady did the same to the Griffons.

Smith picked up the loss, her fifth of the season, through six innings of work. She allowed six earned runs on six hits, struck out three and walked four. Shifflett went 2-4 and Katie Klosterman was 2-3 in the game.

Game 2: #20 UCO 8, MWSU 4

The Griffons had the tying run at first when the final out was recorded of an 8-4 loss at Central Oklahoma.

Trailing 8-4 in the seventh, Morgan Rathmann grounded out to second to lead off the inning but Tiffany Gillaspy followed with a single to second. Sydney Washington then drew a walk to put two on with one out. Shifflett struck out to record the second out before Green was hit by a pitch to put the tying run on with Klosterman at the plate but a ground out to the pitcher ended the Griffons’ attempt at a rally.

Missouri Western jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Rathmann’s lead-off homer. The Bronchos scored the next eight runs with three in the first and six in the second. Green pulled the Griffons within five in the fourth with a two-run home run and Washington’s RBI single in the fifth made the score 8-4.

Shyanne Saladino was charged with the loss to move her to 5-4 on the season. Saladino allowed 11 hits and eight runs. The Griffon defense recorded four errors behind her. Washington finished 3-4 with one driven in and a run scored. Rathmann and Gillaspy each went 2-4 in game two.

Missouri Western will host Southwest Baptist on March 14 in their home opening series. The Griffons and Bearcats will play a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —