ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Softball ended the regular season with its eighth consecutive MIAA doubleheader sweep, taking two games from Emporia State on Senior Day at the Spring Sports Complex.
Missouri Western produced big innings to come back from small early deficits in both games, winning game one 6-2 and game two 14-3 in five innings. The 16-game win streak matched the longest for the program in four seasons.
GAME 1
Missouri Western 6, Emporia State 2
- Emporia State took a 2-1 lead in the second, but MWSU led for good after a four-run third
- Kenzie Hilzer held the Hornets to two runs on four hits and evened her record at 7-7, her third straight win with her last loss coming on April 1
- The Griffons had nine hits and didn’t’ commit an error
- Morgan Frost, Gabi Carter, Emma Hoffart and Taylor Hoelscher each had two hits
- Hoffart drove in three, including a two-run home run in the third
- Frost hit her 21st double of the season in the first, moving into sole possession of the second most by a Griffon in a single season and four away from tying MWSU’s single season record
GAME 2
Missouri Western 14, Emporia State 3
- The Hornets scored two in the first before MWSU was able to record an out, but didn’t score again until the fifth
- The Griffons scored eight in the bottom of the first to take a commanding lead
- MWSU took advantage of an ESU error that would have been the second out of the first with the next eight Griffs reaching before a double play ended the big inning
- The eight-run first included back-to-back doubles by Hoffart and Sydni Hawkins before a Cassidy Kelsheimer two-run home run
- Kaili Hinds won for the 15th time this season, holding ESU to two earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk
- Brea Blanton and Hawkins each drove in three runs
- Hoffart, Hawkins and Kelsheimer had two hits apiece
MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKET SET
- The Griffons are the No. 2 seed in next week’s MIAA Championships in Edmond, Oklahoma
- Missouri Western will play No. 7 seed Pittsburg State at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
— MWSU Athletics —