MARYVILLE, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State University softball team ran its win streak to four in a row with a doubleheader sweep of the Lindenwood Lions on Tuesday.
Northwest scored a walk-off win in game one, 11-10. The Bearcats then posted a 7-1 victory in the nightcap. Northwest is 9-14 overall and 4-6 in MIAA play. Lindwenwood is 17-13 overall and 6-10 in league play.
Game One
Lindenwood started the game strong offensively scoring four runs in the first inning to claim an early 4-0 lead.
The Bearcats answered in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run homer from Kaitlyn Weis to cut the lead 4-2.
Grace Ruehle evened the score at 4-4 with a two-run homer that plated Sydne Brashear in the second.
Lindenwood scored a run in the top of the fourth with a sacrifice fly to take a 5-4 lead.
Olivia Daugherty scored when Kaitlyn Weis reached on a fielder’s choice but Lindenwood catcher Becca Stocker’s throw went awry to first base allowing Daugherty to score from second and tie the game at 5-5.
Daughterty looked to put things out of reach in the fifth when she connected on a grand slam to give the Bearcats a 9-5 lead.
However, Lindenwood had its first seven batters reach base in the top of the seventh to rally for a 10-9 lead over Northwest.
But Daugherty came through in the clutch with a two-out, walk-off, two-run homer to right field that gave the Bearcats a dramatic 11-10 victory.
Rachel Smith earned her fourth win of the season.
Game Two
Northwest wasted little time in building a six-run advantage. The Bearcats put up a pair of three-run innings in the first and second.
The reigning MIAA hitter of the week Erin Keeney came through with a two-run single and Kiana Baderdeen hit a sac fly to give Northwest a 3-0 lead in the first.
Keeney laced a three-run double to right center in the second to give starter Regan Thompson a 6-0 lead.
The Lions scored an unearned run in the fifth to break up Thompson’s shutout bid.
Jaedra Moses singled to left field in the bottom of the sixth, bringing in Brashear for the game’s final tally and giving Northwest a 7-1 triumph.
Thompson tossed a three-hit gem with five strikeouts and allowed one unearned run. Thompson moves to 4-6 on the season.
Up next for the Bearcats is a road trip to Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays on Saturday and Sunday.
NOTES: Olivia Daugherty leads the squad with a .436 batting average, four home runs and 21 RBI … Kaitlyn Weis is batting a .420, with eight homers and 26 RBI … Erin Keeney leads the squad with 30 RBI.
— Northwest Athletics —