The Missouri Western Softball team opened the 2015 season with a 6-2 loss at Henderson State Friday. The Griffons scored both runs in the first inning and couldn’t hang on, giving up all six Reddie runs between the third and fifth innings.

MWSU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on Sydney Washington’s two-run home run. Morgan Rathmann led off the game with a single to left then stole second. Washington drove in MWSU’s first runs of the season when she blasted one to right field two batters later. The Griffons went without another hit from Washington’s round tripper until Brooke Schaben led off the seventh with a double.

Henderson State got on the board in the third when a wild pitch allowed one run to cross the plate. They added three more in the fourth when Allison Waggoner hit a three-run home run to put Henderson State up 4-2. Henderson State added two more in the fifth on another home run, this time a two-run shot that proved to be too much for the Griffons to overcome.

The two teams will see each other again on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the HSU/OBU Ronnie Hawkins Invitational. The Griffons will finish day one of the tournament when they play Mississippi College at 1 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —