ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Missouri Western softball team went 1-1 on the opening day of the 2019 season, splitting a doubleheader with Minnesota State at the Kelly Laas Memorial Invitational inside the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
The Griffons took advantage of some Minnesota State miscues and used a little small ball to claim a 5-2 victory in game one. Game two saw more errors hurting both teams. Down 9-2 after 5 innings, the Griffons scored four runs late to drop game two 9-6.
NOTABLES
- The split left 18th-year head coach Jen Bagley Trotter with 599 career victories and brought her within 16 wins of becoming the winningest softball coach in MIAA history
- Down 9-3 entering the bottom of the seventh in game two, the Griffons scored two and had the tying run at the tying run on deck with one out
- The Griffs got their third run of the seventh in game two home with two outs. The game ended with the tying run on deck on a line out to center with a runner on second.
- Through both games, the teams combined for 13 errors, six committed by Missouri Western
- The Griffons scored 11 runs on the day off of 12 hits. Minnesota State scored its 11 runs on 19 hits.
- Neither team needed to rely on the long ball with Missouri Western slugging .309 on the day with two doubles and one home run and Minnesota State slugging .361 with three doubles and no home runs
- Missouri Western employed all four pitchers from its deep staff
LEADERS
- Freshman Sydni Hawkins went 4-for-7 at the plate with three runs scored, two RBIs and a stolen base
- Another freshman, Taylor Hoelscher, added two hits
- Emma Hoffart had a pair of hits and drove in two runs
- Gabi Carter walked three times and ended the day with two RBIs
- Cassidy Kelsheimer hit the first home run of the season for MWSU with a leadoff solo shot in the fifth of game two
- Olivia Goodale got the win in game one in relief of Kenzie Hilzer. Goodale shut out Minnesota State over 3 1/3, allowing two hits
- Hilzer gave up one earned run, two total runs, through 3 2/3 in game one
UP NEXT
- Missouri Western stays in St. Cloud for two more games on Saturday
- The Griffons take on Concordia-St. Paul at 9 a.m. and the host team, St. Cloud State at 1:30 p.m.
— MWSU Athletics —