ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The 14th-ranked Missouri Western softball team lost their first home games of the season Tuesday as they were swept in a doubleheader at the Griffons Springs Sports Complex by Central Missouri, 12-1 and 8-6.

GAME 1: UCM 12, MWSU 1 (5 innings)

For the first time since Feb. 21, Griffon Softball was on the losing end of a run-rule game. The Griffons struggled to get anything going offensively and were in an early 7-0 hole after allowing six in the first and another in the second.

Janie Smith got the leadoff batter out then surrendered two straight outs and was charged with a fielding error on the fourth batter she faced, loading the bases with just one out. Smith then coaxed a pop up that froze the runners. The next six batters singled, driving in six unearned runs in the first inning.

MWSU managed just one run. It came in the fourth on an RBI-double from Katie Klosterman. No Griffon had more than one hit and the team totaled just six and committed two errors in the field. Smith took the loss (13-7), going three and a third innings, and allowing 10 runs on 10 hits, three of the runs were earned. Taylor Schaben went an inning and two –thirds in relief, surrendering two earned runs on five hits.

GAME 2: UCM 8, MWSU 6

After three in the first and one in the second, MWSU took an early 4-1 lead and looked to be in control until the Jennies took the lead in the sixth. UCM scored two in the fifth, three in the sixth and two in the seventh to take the game, 8-6.

MWSU had the tying run on second base in the bottom of the seventh but couldn’t advance the seventh or eighth runs of the game. Down 8-5 going into the final half inning, Paige Shifflett led off the inning with a single to center and Kailey Green followed with a walk. Klosterman struck out swinging to record the first out. Then Shelbie Atwell singled and things got crazy. Pinch running for Shifflett, Taylor Schaben made it to third on a throwing error by the center fielder. Schaben then advanced home when she was obstructed by the third baseman. Atwell made it to second and Green got to third in the melee. Megan Korgie made the second out when she struck out swinging in a pinch-hit at bat for Brooke Schaben. Rebekah Mueller ended it with a fly out to right.

Shifflett and Muller both homered in the game. Shifflett’s solo shot drove in the final two runs of the first inning and Mueller led off the second with a solo shot to center. Tiffany Gillaspy was 2-4 in game two with one RBI and a run scored. Shifflett was 2-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Klosterman, Atwell and Mueller were all 2-4 as well. Shyanne Saladino had an up and down performance, picking up the loss in seven innings of work. Saladino gave up 11 hits and eight runs, four earned. She struck out three and walked one.

The losses dropped the team to 28-14 on the year and 12-6 in the MIAA. MWSU continues a challenging stretch this weekend with doubleheaders at Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State.

— MWSU Sports Information —