Griffon softball takes two from Nebraska-Kearney to extend win streak to six

KEARNEY, Neb. – With its third-straight doubleheader sweep, the Missouri Western softball team stretched its win streak to six games and leapfrogged several teams in the MIAA standings into fourth place.

The Griffons (24-14, 11-5) won 6-2 and 6-4 at Nebraska-Kearney (12-18, 8-8), Sunday, coming back with a pair of productive middle innings in game one and jumping out and holding on in game two.

The six-game win streak is the longest for the program since winning seven straight in 2018.

GAME 1
Missouri Western 6, Nebraska-Kearney 2

Two UNK runs in the bottom of the third put MWSU down 3-1, but not for long as Taylor Hoelscher’s second and third RBIs of the game tied the Griffons and Lopers at three after four innings
Sydni Hawkins gave the Griffs the lead for good with a two-RBI single in the fifth
Cassidy Kelsheimer added to the lead with an RBI-single to left in the fifth
Kaili Hinds got the win and moved to 10-3 on the season, allowing two runs on three hits through four innings
Olivia Goodale gave the Griffs another good relief outing, picking up her fourth save of the season by keeping UNK off the scoreboard on three hits through three innings
Brea Blanton, Hawkins, Kelsheimer and Hoelscher had three hits apiece

GAME 2
Missouri Western 6, Nebraska-Kearney 4

Emma Hoffart made it 3-0 Griffons in the first with a home run to right
Hawkins drove in two with a double to right center in the third that made it 5-1 MWSU, but UNK wasn’t done
The Lopers scored one in the third and two in the fifth to pull within one
MWSU loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth, but just got one run in on a Morgan Frost walk before two ground outs ended the inning and preserved a two-run deficit for the home team
Kenzie Hilzer slammed the door on any hopes of a rally, retiring all six batters she faced in two innings of relief work that gave the junior back-to-back stellar relief outings
Blanton and Hawkins added two more hits each in game two
Hoffart was 2-for-4 with three RBIs

UP NEXT

The Griffons host Southwest Baptist (5-28, 2-6) on Tuesday in a re-scheduled series from earlier this season
Then MWSU travels to Missouri Southern (17-18, 8-10) on Friday and Pittsburg State (18-21, 6-8) on Saturday.

— MWSU Athletics —