WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Missouri Western softball team had its season come to an end Saturday as they lost to Arkansas Tech 4-1 in an elimination game at the NCAA Division II Central Regional at Warrensburg.

The Griffons scored one in the first and held that lead until the fourth when Arkansas Tech scored three then added another in the fourth. MWSU stranded 10 runners on base and scored one run on five hits, four walks and three Arkansas Tech errors. The loss dropped MWSU’s season record to 36-21.

The Griffons scored their lone run in the first after Morgan Rathmann led off with a single through the left side. She stole second and advanced to third on a Sydney Washington single to right then scored on a wild pitch. Arkansas Tech led off the fourth with a single then advanced the runner to second with a sacrifice bunt. An RBI single tied the game at one then a walk and a double made it a 3-1 Arkansas Tech lead.

MWSU had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the fourth but had a runner thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice and a groundout ended the inning. The Griffons got two more on with one out in the bottom of the fifth on back-to-back walks by Paige Shifflett and Kailey Green but another threat was stopped with a pop up and a strikeout to end the inning.

Janie Smith took the loss to fall to 19-13 on the year. She went seven innings, giving up all four runs, three earned, on seven hits. She walked four and struck out one. Washington went 2-4 at the plate. Rathmann, Katie Klosterman and Shelbie Atwell had the other Griffon hits.

— MWSU Sports Information —