MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Missouri Western softball team (45-12) kept its season alive with the team’s fifth win over Central Oklahoma this season, 9-0 in an elimination game Friday at the NCAA Central Region 2 Tournament.

The win sets up a rematch between the Griffons and Southern Arkansas in the Region 2 Tournament Championship on Saturday at 1 p.m. Missouri Western will have to defeat Southern Arkansas twice to advance to the Central Super Regional May 11 and 12.

HOW THEY SCORED
2nd inning
Sydney Washington doubled to drive in Kailey Green – 1-0 MWSU
Megan Korgie hit the team’s second straight double to score Washington – 2-0 MWSU
3rd inning
Katie Klosterman hit an RBI single through the left side to score Paige Shifflett – 3-0 MWSU
Washington hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Green – 4-0 MWSU
4th inning
Rebekah Mueller scored on a double-steal attempt; Shelbe Atwell thrown out a second – 5-0 MWSU
7th inning
Taylor Hamilton hit her 11th home run of the season on the first pitch of the inning – 6-0 MWSU
Mueller drew a bases loaded walk that scored Klosterman – 7-0 MWSU
Morgan Rathmann’s single up the middle drove in Korgie and Washington – 9-0 MWSU

IN THE BOX SCORE
The Griffons had 13 hits and took advantage of two Central Oklahoma errors, committing two themselves.
Rathmann was 2-3 with two RBIs. Washintgon was 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Klosterman was 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Janie Smith moved to 24-9 on the season, pitching seven innings and allowing six hits, walking four and striking out three. She stranded 12 base runners for UCO.

NOTABLES
– First time the Griffons have won two games in a regional since 2009

– First sub-regional championship appearance for the Griffons since 2009

– Smith shutout UCO for the second time in a week; two of four shutouts the team suffered this season

– Smith pitched her 10th shutout of the season; tied for second most in a season at MWSU

– Missouri Western held a team without an extra base hit for the second time in this regional (Minnesota Duluth)

– The two home runs Southern Arkansas hit in the sixth inning, Friday, were the only extra base hits Griffon pitchers have surrendered this regional

– UCO was 2-12 with runners in scoring position; MWSU was 6-15

– Only the second time MWSU has eliminated an MIAA team from a regional (UCM in 2009)

UP NEXT
Missouri Western faces elimination once again, Saturday at 1 p.m vs. Southern Arkansas. The Griffons were defeated 6-0 by Southern Arkansas, earlier Friday.

— MWSU Athletics —