ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western softball team (15-12, 4-4) earned its first true doubleheader sweep of the season taking its series from Northwest Missouri State (3-11, 0-6) Wednesday night.

Missouri Western jumped out to a 9-0 lead in game one then fought off a Bearcat rally to win 11-8. In game two, the Griffs scratched across five runs in a bit of a pitcher’s duel to win 5-1. With the two wins, MWSU head coach Jen Bagley Trotter moved one win away from tying Rhesa Sumrell as the winningest coach in MIAA history.

GAME 1
Missouri Western 11, Northwest 8

• A five-run first and a four-run second gave the Griffs a 9-0 lead after two innings
• Northwest chipped away at the lead in the third and fourth before a big, 6-run sixth inning pulled the Bearcats within one
• MWSU added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth
• The Griffons had five doubles in the game
• Emma Hoffart had four RBIs in the game and went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and a home run
• Brea Blanton also homered and went 2-for-4
• Morgan Frost was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two doubles
• Gabi Carter went 2-for-4 and Sydni Hawkins was 2-for-3 with a double
• Kaili Hinds improved to 7-3 on the season, going 6 1/3 total with five strikeouts

GAME 2
Missouri Western 5, Northwest 1

• Kenzie Hilzer pitched one of her best games of the season, holding the Bearcats to one earned run on five hits. She struck out five and walked just one to move to 3-5 on the season.
• The Griffons spread their offense around a little more, scratching out a run in the second, two in the third and two in the sixth on Northwest starter Rachel Smith
• Smith struck out six Griffon batters in 5 2/3
• Frost stayed hot, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and another double. She had two RBIs on a single in the sixth that put Northwest away
• Hawkins added two more hits and was 2-for-2 at the plate

UP NEXT

• The Griffons host the Hy-Vee Classic beginning Thursday, March 21
• The schedule for the classic has been adjusted once again with the loss of Minot State from the field and the threat of rain over the weekend
• Still, the Griffons will open the Classic against Northern State at 2 p.m. on Thursday.

— MWSU Athletics —