The Missouri Western softball team pounded out 25 hits and scored 18 runs defeating Illinois-Springfield 9-1 and Nebraska-Kearney 9-5 on day one of the UAM Seven State Classic. Taylor Anding led the way with a .571 batting average while Michelle Stevenson had five hits helping MWSU improve to 4-2.
MWSU 9, Illinois-Springfield 1 (6 innings)
In the opening game of the classic the Griffons got off to a hot start with Keri Lorbert hitting her third home run of the season giving the Griffons a 2-0 lead after an inning. The scored remained that way until Tina Buck hit a solo homer cutting the Griffons lead to one after three an a half innings.
From there it would be all MWSU scoring seven runs in the next three innings. In the fourth inning Sarah Elliott blasted her second homer of the season giving MWSU a 5-1 lead after four. In the fifth Taylor Anding had an RBI single scoring Maegan Roemmich.
In the sixth inning the Griffons had three straight hits which included a three run homer by Tiffany Gillaspy ending the game and giving MWSU the 9-1 victory.
The Griffons had 12 hits with Stevenson getting three while scoring two runs. Breanna Fleschner and Anding both had two hits while Gillaspy had three RBI.
Jackie Bishop improves to 2-1 on the season going all six inning scattering four hits while striking out eight.
Four different Prairie Stars got hits in the game. Buck picked up the loss going just three innings giving up six hits and four earned runs. She also struck out four. UIS falls to 0-1 on the season.
MWSU 9, Nebraska-Kearney 5
The hot bats continued in game two as the Griffons pounded out 13 hits and scored eight runs in the first two innings taking a 8-0 lead after two. Fleschner led off the game with a home run over the center field fence and then Roemmich doubled in Gillaspy giving MWSU the 2-0 lead.
In the second inning the Griffons had four hits with three singles and a double helping them to six runs.
The Lopers scored five unanswared runs which included a three run homer in the sixth by Samantha Liebman cutting the Griffon lead to 8-5 heading to the seventh inning.
Back-to-back doubles in the seventh by Anding and Elliott gave MWSU a 9-5 lead going to the bottom of the seventh. Emily Moe came into close the door on UNK giving up one hit and walking one in one inning of work. Janie Smith pitched six innings scattering nine hits with four earned runs. She improves to 2-0 on the season.
Smith also had two hits with one run scored in her first game hitting this season. Gillaspy had three hits while Stevenson, Anding and Elliott each collecting two.
Becky Dunn got the loss for UNK going one inning giving up five hits and four earned runs. She falls to 1-2 on the season. Nebraska-Kearney had ten hits with Mallory Noakes collecting three. They fall to 1-4 with the loss.
The Griffons return to action on Saturday, February 16 with games against Henderson State and Arkansas-Monticello. Game times are set for 10:00 am and 12:00 pm respectively.
— MWSU Sports Information —