MARYVILLE, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State University softball squad pounded out a pair of five-inning victories over the visiting Lincoln Blue Tigers on Monday.
Northwest tallied 19 hits in the opener in a 15-2 win. The Bearcats added 14 more hits in a 15-0 victory in the nightcap. After playing their first 19 games on the road or neutral fields, Monday marked the home opener for the Bearcats.
Game One
Northwest was the first to score in the bottom of the second with a two-run homer from Grace Ruehle to put the Bearcats up, 2-0.
Lincoln answered in the top of the third with a two-run blast from Camryn Pryor to tie the game, 2-2.
Kaitlyn Weis started heating things up in the third with a homer to left center. Shortly after, Karli Allen hit a three-run homer to center. Olivia Daugherty hit an RBI bringing in Ady Watts to score, pushing the Bearcat lead to 7-2.
Lincoln couldn’t answer as the Bearcats went on to score eight more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Erin Keeney got things rolling with a homer to right field. Sydne Brashear doubled to center field, bringing in Kiana Baderdeen. Allen hit a single to right center, scoring Brashear. Daugherty doubled in Ruehle to keep the Bearcat offense rolling. Keeney doubled to left field, allowing Weis and Jaedra Moses to score. Baderdeen hit for the second time in the inning and tallied an RBI to give Northwest a 15-2 victory.
Northwest starter Rachel Smith picked up the victory and is 2-6 on the year. Smith allowed six hits and two runs, while striking out five.
Game Two
The second game was much of the same story. Northwest got on the board first with Olivia Daugherty scoring first off a single from Jaedra Moses. Kiana Baderdeen singled up the middle bringing in Moses to score. Baderdeen stole second and then advanced to third on an error by the shortstop. Sydne Brashear got an RBI, allowing Baderdeen to score to put the Bearcats up 3-0.
In the second inning, Erin Keeney hit a grand slam to add to the scoring show. Karli Allen got an RBI bringing in Baderdeen to score. Jaclyn Weydert singled and advanced to second on an error by the right fielder, allowing Allen and Brashear to score. Daugherty singled to left field bringing in Weydert and Ruehle to the plate and advancing the Bearcat lead to 12-0.
Allen hit another three-run homer in the bottom of the third to secure the Bearcat win, 15-0.
Northwest pitcher Regan Thompson tossed a three-hit shutout in the five-inning victory. Thompson struck out seven batters and walked none. Thompson moves to 3-5 on the season.
The Bearcats move to 7-14 overall and will be back in action Tuesday in Maryville with another doubleheader against Lindenwood starting at 1 p.m.
NOTES: Olivia Daugherty went 6-of-8 in the doubleheader with two doubles and four RBI … Erin Keeney belted two home runs and tallied seven RBI vs. Lincoln … Karli Allen crushed two home runs and posted eight RBI as she went 4-for-6 in the doubleheader … Sydne Brashear went 5-for-6 with four runs scored … Grace Ruehle went 2-for-4 with two walks and four runs scored … Northwest hit .569 in the doubleheader (33-of-58).
— Northwest Athletics —