EDMOND, Okla. – A six-run fifth inning by No. 1 Central Oklahoma (45-5) blew a tight MIAA Championship game wide open and led to a 10-2 loss in six innings for the Missouri Western softball team (37-16).

A 2-2 ballgame through four innings, UCO regained the lead in the fifth on a two-run home run by Jobi Heath and proceeded to score four more with two out to take an 8-2 lead after 4 . Missouri Western took a 1-0 lead on Sydni Hawkins’ second home run of her freshman season in the second. UCO tied it in the third and took a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Cassidy Kelsheimer beat out a slow roller to first for a single in the bottom of the fourth and the play at first allowed Morgan Frost to score from second to tie the game at two.

Lexi Kinnaird (11-4) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on 10 hits over 4 2/3. Kaili Hinds went the final inning-plus, allowing three runs on five hits. It was Kinnaird’s first loss since Feb. 24 against Sioux Falls. The Griffons totaled just four hits, with only two after the second on MIAA Pitcher of the Year Bailey McKittrick. Kelsheimer had two of the Griffons’ hits, Hawkins and Frost had the others.

Missouri Western finished as the runner-up in both the regular season standings and the postseason tournament to Central Oklahoma. Both were the best finishes for the team since besting UCO to sweep the MIAA Championships in 2016.

The Griffons will await to find where and who they will likely play in next week’s NCAA Division II Central Regional. The NCAA selection show will be streamed live on NCAA.com, Monday at 9 a.m.

— MWSU Athletics —