Griffon softball goes 2-0 on day one in Arkadelphia

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Missouri Western softball team (6-2) pounded out 25 hits and 16 runs to sweep both games on the team’s first day at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic.

Missouri Western started the day with its second win in as many games against Ouachita Baptist (1-6) and ended it with a big win over Harding (4-2). The Griffons were three outs away from run-ruling a Harding team that had shutout the Griffons in three-straight chances and had two wins over top-5 ranked teams this season.

Seven different Griffs had at least three hits on the day. Emma Hoffart went 5-for-7 at the dish with five RBIs, a home run and a double. She also walked once and was 2-for-2 on stolen base attempts.

GAME 1
Missouri Western 4, Ouachita Baptist 2

A four-run fourth inning was enough for the Griffons who got a four-hit, five-strikeout complete game from Kaili Hinds
In her first start of the season, Hinds went the distance and needed just 90 pitches to hold Ouachita to two runs on four hits. She struck out five and walked one batter with one out in the seventh. She improved to 2-0 on the season.
Ouachita Baptist scored both their runs on a home run in the fourth
Lauren Houston and Taylor Hoelscher both doubled in runs in the fourth, two for Houston and one for Hoelscher
Sydni Hawkins also doubled in the game and was one of four Griffs with two hits
Emma Hoffart, Houston and Hoelscher also had two hits each
MWSU had chances to score even more, leaving 11 runners on base

GAME 2
Missouri Western 12, Harding 5

Missouri Western had lost three-straight to Harding and hadn’t scored a run on the Bisons since a 4-1 win on Feb. 7, 2016
Harding had allowed just 15 runs through its first five games of the season and came in 4-1 with two wins over top-5 ranked teams
The Griffons led 11-1 headed to the fifth needing three outs to end the game, but Harding scored four in the inning to keep the game alive
MWSU scored nine runs in the first two innings, hitting three home runs over the first two frames, the only three long balls surrendered by Harding all season
Shelby Uhl led off the bottom of the first with a solo shot
Emma Hoffart blasted a three-run homer to cap the four-run first for MWSU
Morgan Frost added to the early home run derby with a grand slam in the second
Hoffart went 3-for-5 in the game with a double and a home run. She drove in five
Frost was 2-for-3 in the game with four RBIs and three runs scored
Cassidy Kelsheimer went 2-for-4 with two doubles
Kenzie Hilzer (2-1) got the win, allowing three runs on five hits over the first four innings, walking five and striking out five
Olivia Goodale picked up her first save of the season, holding Harding off the scoreboard over three innings. She allowed four hits, walked two and struck out one

UP NEXT

Missouri Western stays in Arkadelphia for two games on the Henderson State campus tomorrow
The Griffons face Henderson State (4-5) at 9 a.m. and Arkansas at Monticello (3-0) at 1 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —