The Missouri Western softball team out hit the Pittsburg State Gorillas 8 to 5 but stranded 11 runners on base which included the bases loaded in the top of the seventh falling 2-1 in the first game of the Border Battle hosted by Missouri Southern. With the loss the Griffons fall to 11-6 on the season. The Griffons will take on William Jewell College at 4:00 pm closing out day one.

Things looked good early for the Griffons getting the first two batters of the game on base. Unfortunatly the Griffons stranded Sarah Elliott and Bre Fleschner on second and third.

The Gorillas jumped on Jackie Bishop in the first when Jordan Bradshaw got hit by a pitch and then Cheslyn Mitchell hit a homer to center field giving PSU the 2-0 lead after one.

In the top of the second the Griffons responded when Taylor Anding singled to shortstop and later scored on a Kendall Sorensen RBI double to left field cutting the PSU lead to 2-1 after two.

Both rest of the game both teams got numerous runners on base but were unable to push any runs across. In the seventh the put together a two out rally started by a double by Tiffany Gillaspy. Keri Lorbert then singled to shortstop and Michelle Stevenson walked setting the stage for Maegan Roemmich. Roemmich got a hold of it but the center fielder got underneath it dropping the Griffons.

Bishop falls to 6-2 giving up five hits while striking out four and walking three. Lorbert and Anding had two hits apiece for MWSU.

The Gorillas improve to 8-4 overall with Tiffany Brown (3) and Mitchell (2) combining for all five of their hits. Haleigh Sills went all seven innings giving up eight hist while striking out two. She improves to 3-1 with the victory.

— MWSU Sports Information —