ST. JOSEPH – A run in the first inning and a breakout pitching performance by Lexi Kinnaird were a recipe for history as Griffon Softball head coach Jen Bagley Trotter became the MIAA’s all-time wins leader with her 615th victory, 1-0 over No. 22 Winona State.
Trotter moved past former Griffon head coach Rhesa Sumrell for the most wins ever by a softball coach while at an MIAA school. All 615 of her wins as a head coach have come in her 18-year career at Missouri Western. It came in a one-run win over a ranked opponent that featured plenty of drama.
Winona State put runners on base in every inning but the third, but Kinnaird was able to work around the runners. After retiring the first two in the top of the seventh, Kinnaird walked a batter and gave up a single to put two on. A fly out to center ended the game and gave Kinnaird a complete game shutout.
Kinnaird (3-3) struck out five batters and walked two for her first seven-inning complete game of the year.
Gabi Carter and Emma Hoffart provided the Griffs with two of their five hits in the game in the first inning. Hoffart’s two-out double to center scored Carter from first for the only run of the game. Winona State’s Liz Pautz did her best to match Kinnaird’s performance, striking out seven with one walk and five hits allowed through six innings. Carter had two of MWSU’s hits, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
UP NEXT
Missouri Western could potentially end up with games Sunday in the Hy-Vee Classic. If not. The Griffons will wait until next week to host Lindenwood (March 29) and Lincoln (March 30) in doubleheaders.
— MWSU Athletics —