The Northwest Missouri State softball team lost an NCAA Central Region elimination game to Upper Iowa Friday afternoon, 3-0.

– The tournament is being hosted by Arkansas Tech University at the Chatwells Women’s Sports Complex in Russellville, Ark.

– The loss gives the Bearcats a 37-16 record this season, the second-most wins in program history. Upper Iowa improves to 40-17 and advances to play Minnesota State in the loser’s bracket final Friday evening.

Key Statistics
– Sarah Baldwin came out of the bullpen to throw five shutout innings, surrendering just one hit while striking out five Peacocks.

– Junior Torri Blythe turned in a 1-for-3 effort, reaching on a bunt single in the fourth. Blythe also stole her 22nd bag of the season, third-most in a single season in school history.

– Kiana Baderdeen finished 1-for-2 with an infield single.

– Jessica Rawie singled on a sharp line drive in the bottom of the fifth, finishing 1-for-2.

– Kendle Schieber (21-8) took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits in two-plus innings pitched. The senior tallied one strikeout.

Key Innings
– The Peacocks scored all their runs on four hits in the top of the second inning.

– Baldwin retired final 10 batters she faced, including all five of her strikeouts.

– Baderdeen opened the sixth with a sharp single up the middle that bounced off the pitcher’s glove toward third base. The freshman moved up to second on a passed ball before heading to third on a fly ball to right, but was called out after it was ruled that she left before the catch was made, thwarting the final Bearcat threat of the game.

— Northwest Athletics —