The Missouri Western softball team ran its home record to 11-1 with an MIAA doubleheader sweep over the Washburn Lady Blues on Saturday afternoon. The Griffons won game one 8-0 in six innings and took the second game 9-7. Kat Steponovich went 4-for-6 with five RBI and two runs scored in the two games. Western improves to 29-6 overall and 12-2 in MIAA action.
Game 1: MWSU 8, WU 0 (6 innings)
The Griffons scored runs in four straight innings including a five run fifth putting the game out of reach as Missouri Western ended it early winning 8-0 in six innings. Jackie Bishop pitched her 16th complete game and fifth shutout improving her record to 15-2. She gave up two hits while striking out six and leaving three on base.
Missouri Western got the scoring started in the third inning when Breanna Fleschner double to center field leading off the inning. Blair Stalder got one of her three hits two batters later and Keri Lorbert hit a sacrifice fly scoring Fleschner giving Western the 1-0 lead.
The Griffons scored again in the fourth as Taylor Anding hit the Griffons third double to lead off the fourth. She would move over on a Steele groundout and score on an error by the Washburn third baseman giving Western the 2-0 lead after four.
In the fifth Western exploded for five runs as Michelle Stevenson led off with a pinch hit single and advanced to third on Stalder’s third hit of the game. Stevenson scored the first run on a wild pitch and Stalder scored on a single to right center from Maegan Roemmich.
With two outs in the inning Western got three straight hits which included doubles by Steponovich and Sarah Elliot plating three more Griffons giving Western the 7-0 lead after five. In the sixth the Griffons used a pinch hit from Tiffany Gillaspy and an error from the Washburn left fielder helping them end the game.
For the 12th time this season the Griffons pounded out 10 or more hits finishing the game with 14. Stalder went 3-for-3 with one run scored while Steele and Steponovich both had two hits. Ten different Griffons got hits in the game.
The Lady Blues got two hits with Brittany Cushing and Kristen Bell each getting one. Lindsey Moore falls to 5-6 going five innings. She gave up 12 hits and six earned runs while striking out two.
Game 2: MWSU 9, WU 7
Game two of the doubleheader was a little more intersting than the first as the Griffons came away with an 9-7 victory thanks to a six run third inning. The Griffons scored two runs in the second inning capitalizing on three Lady Blue errors and one hit which came off the bat of Steponovich.
The Lady Blues responded in the top of the third with three hits and two runs tying the score at two after two and a half. In the third Western exploded for six runs and four hits with Kendall Sorenson clearing the bases with a double giving Western the 8-2 lead after three.
Everything looked good until the Washburn bats came alive in the fourth. The Lady Blues got four hits which included a grand slam from Lindsey Moore and a solo shot from Alex Zordel cutting the Griffon lead to 8-7.
Griffon releiver Emily Moe came in to get the final two outs of the innings and the final nine outs of the game earning the victory. She improves to 3-0 overall giving up just two hits in 3.2 innings of work.
Western tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Erin Widrig scored on an error by the Lady Blue shortstop.
Western pounded out eight hits in the game with Sorenson, Anding and Steponovich all getting two. Steponovich and Sorenson both had three RBI.
The Lady Blues fall to 13-17 overall and 5-7 in MIAA play. They had nine hits with Britny Cushing, Shelby Erickson and Kacy Covert all getting two hits. Kayla Oldham falls to 6-9 going six innings giving up eight hits and three earned runs with one strikeout.
The Griffons return to MIAA play on Friday, April 6 when they travel to Pittsburg, Kan. to take on the Pittsburg State Gorillas in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
— MWSU Sports Information —