OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – No. 5 seed Griffon Softball (25-28) rallied to keep its season alive, coming back to eliminate No. 1-seeded Washburn 5-4 on the opening night of the MIAA Championships.

Shelby Uhl delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth to push Missouri Western past the MIAA regular season champions. Gabi Carter got on to lead off the eighth by being hit by a pitch. Kalyn Damgaard pinch ran for Carter and got to second two batters later on Markee Brown’s fielder’s choice. Uhl bounced a single into center that scored Damgaard from second to give MWSU the upset win.

Down 4-0 in the bottom of the seventh, the bottom of the Griffon order sparked the rally. Rebekah Mueller led off the inning with a double to left and got to third when Markee Brown singled and advanced on a throw. With runners on second and third, Tamara Hicks struck out. Shelby Uhl gave the Griffs their first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Mueller and got Brown to third. Shelbie Atwell followed with an RBI-double to left center. Morgan Frost scored Atwell with a single to left and got to second herself on the throw. Lonnie Groves drove in the tying run with a single to right.

The Griffons were limited to just an infield single through the first six innings, but totaled five hits in the seventh. Kenzie Hilzer picked up the win in relief. The honorable mention All-MIAA pitcher entered with runners on first and second and one out in the eighth. She coaxed two ground outs to end the Ichabod threat.

A 5-3 loss to No. 4 seed Northwest Missouri in the opener pushed the Griffons into the Thursday night elimination game. The win over Washburn moves the Griffons into another elimination game Friday at 11 a.m. against No. 3 seed Central Oklahoma

— MWSU Athletics —