ST. JOSEPH, Missouri – Olivia Daugherty blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough as Winona State hung on for a 5-3 triumph over the Northwest Missouri State softball team on Friday at the Hy-Vee Classic.

Winona State scored a pair of runs in the opening inning and led 2-0 before the Bearcats came to bat. The Bearcats limited the damage to only two runs as they got out of the jam by getting a ground out with the bases loaded.

Winona State scored two more in the top of the fifth and one in the seventh, holding the Bearcats scoreless until the bottom of the seventh inning.

Karli Allen was hit by a pitch to start the seventh and she moved to third when Jacee Winn singled to shortstop. Daugherty followed with her three-run homer to left field to cut the lead to 5-3. Kaitlyn Weis singled with two outs for her second hit of the game bringing the typing run to the plate in the form of Erin Keeney. But Keeney struck out swinging to end the contest.

Up next for the Bearcats is a doubleheader against Missouri S&T in Rolla, Missouri, on Wednesday beginning at noon.

— Northwest Athletics —