It was a tough opening day for the Northwest Missouri State softball team as they dropped a pair at the Southwestern Oklahoma Tournament on Friday with a 2-1 extra inning loss to the host Bulldogs and a 12-5 decision to William Jewell.
The Bearcats slide to 0-2, but will have revenge on their mind as they face Southwestern Oklahoma and William Jewell on Saturday to close out the Southwestern Oklahoma Tournament.
Game One – Box Score
Solid pitching was on display in game of the Southwestern Oklahoma Tournament Friday as the Bulldogs came up with a 2-1 win over Northwest in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Northwest jumped out early on the Bulldogs after an RBI single to right field from Angela Wright put the Bearcats up 1-0 in the top half of the first. However, that would be the only run Northwest would assemble as Katie Raines shut down the Bearcat bats.
Jenna Creger was also impressive in her first outing of the season scattering six hits and only allowing two runs. It was the second run, however, that came with one out in the bottom half of the seventh that propelled the Bulldogs in game one.
Creger also struck out five and only walked two batters on the day, but her second walk proved costly. She would walk the leadoff batter for SWOSU in the seventh after moving to third on a single. The winning run for the Bulldogs would come across the plate on Audra Chambless’ second hit of the day.
Raines also walked two for the Bulldogs as she scattered five hits in a complete game win while striking out one.
Game two – Box Score
After taking an early 3-0 lead, the Bearcat bats fell silent as William Jewell benefited from 11 runs over the final three innings to secure a 12-4 win in game two.
Angela Wright blasted a two-run homer and Haile Hendricks came up with a RBI double to give the Bearcats the early lead in the first inning.
Northwest starter Morgan Brunmeier also got off to a hot start keeping the Cardinal offense at bay through the first four innings only allowing one run.
Trouble would strike in the fifth as a single and an error set-up a Faith Song double for Jewell pulling the Cardinals within one. William Jewell would take the lead just three batters later after a pair of walks, Rach Hayden sent a 2-RBI double in the gap making it a 4-3 Cardinal lead.
The Bearcats would battle back to tie the game in the bottom half of the fourth as Kristen Uthe picked up her only RBI on a sacrifice fly.
However, the Northwest bullpen could not hold the Cardinals as they erupted for four runs in the sixth and seventh to ice game. The Bearcats would stage a late rally in the bottom of the seventh, but only manage one run, falling 12-5.
— NWMSU Sports Information —