ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Softball (18-14, 5-5) battled back to take the first game of a doubleheader with Lindenwood (17-11, 6-8) Monday night, but one rough inning put a sweep out of reach.

Missouri Western trailed 3-0 in game one, before getting the offense going late to win game one 6-3. In game two, Lindenwood broke things open with eight runs in the fifth and sixth innings – five in the fifth – to win 9-3.

GAME 1
Missouri Western 6, Lindenwood 3

• A three-run fourth by the Griffs tied the game at three
• Emma Hoffart put the first MWSU run on the board, scoring on a throwing error by the Lindenwood catcher following an infield single by Shelby Uhl
• With the bases loaded and two out, Brea Blanton singled to center to drive in two more in the fourth
• Sydni Hawkins put the Griffs up 5-3 with a double to left center
• Morgan Frost drove in an insurance run in the sixth with a double down the left field line
• Lexi Kinnaird worked around some early trouble to move to 4-3 with her second-straight win. She gave up three runs on six hits through seven innings with four strikeouts and two walks
• Hoffart was 3-for-4 with two runs
• Blanton was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs

Game 2
Lindenwood 9, Missouri Western 3

• After Blanton hit a leadoff homer in the first, the Griffons had a hard time getting runs in against Lindenwood starter Stormee Galka
• A 1-1 game after four innings, Lindenwood broke it open with five in the fifth, aided by two Griffon errors
• MWSU committed its third error of the game in a three-run sixth inning for Lindenwood
• Facing a run-rule shortened loss, the Griffons rallied for two in the bottom of the sixth
• Gabi Carter got the rally going with a leadoff double and Hawkins drove in Tamara Hicks who was running for Carter with a double of her own two batters later
• Cassidy Kelsheimer made the first out of the inning productive with a sacrifice fly, but the next two batters were retired
• MWSU had three doubles and a home run in the game and left seven runners stranded
• Kenzie Hilzer took the loss, giving up all nine runs on 11 hits through six innings. She struck out four and walked one

UP NEXT

• A home doubleheader at 4 p.m. against Lincoln (4-28, 1-13) on Tuesday
• The Blue Tigers were outscored 30-2 in a doubleheader at Northwest Missouri on Monday.

— MWSU Athletics —