OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Fifth-seeded Missouri Western softball team went 1-1 on the opening day of the MIAA Softball Championships to advance to Friday’s round of games.

The Griffons avenged two losses at Missouri Southern earlier this season with a 4-2 win over the fourth-seeded Lions in their first round game. In round two, it was top-seeded Central Oklahoma’s turn for revenge as the Bonchos held MWSU to three hits in a 10-1 win over the Griffons.

Morgan Rathmann opened her final MIAA tournament with another broken record. The senior broke the MIAA career triples record by leading off the Missouri Southern game with the 32nd triple of her career. Rathmann went 4 for 4 in the game to tie the MWSU career hits record (263), but was held hitless in the Central Oklahoma game.

The Griffons had just one hit through the first six innings against UCO, a misplayed pop-fly to left that turned into a double for Sydney Washington in the second. They added two more hits and their only run of the game in the seventh.

Missouri Western will face seventh-seeded Southwest Baptist on Friday at 10 a.m. Southwest Baptist lost its opener, 1-0 in 14 innings to second-seeded Pittsburg State before eliminating third-seeded Central Missouri, Thursday night.

The three seed (UCM) and four seed (Missouri Southern) were eliminated from the tournament Thursday. Second-seeded Pittsburg State already has one loss.

Friday’s games can be heard on ESPN 1550 in St. Joseph or streamed live, here. All Missouri Western games Friday will also have live video streaming available at this link.

— MWSU Athletics —