Location did not matter for the Northwest Missouri State softball team who were supposed to host Southwest Baptist for their home opener, but instead played in Platte City, Mo. and swept the double-header winning 14-1 in game one and 7-3 in game two.
Northwest took advantage of Southwest Baptist pitching in game one as they walked nine times in the five inning run rule shortened game.
The Bearcats put up five runs with RBI’s by Maddie Jones, Kristine Labertew, Kylie Cantrell, Kaylie Sherer and Jordan Ereth as they batted around in the first inning.
Northwest again plated five runners in the second inning. Hailee Hendricks scored on a fielder’s choice, followed by Cantrell who hit a double to center field that scored two. Cantrell would later score along with Rachel Schmitz to put the Bearcats up 10-0.
Schmitz walked with bases load in the bottom of the third to bring in the teams 11th run of the game across the plate. Later in the inning Jordan Ereth stroked a bases loaded double into left field for three more runs to put Northwest up 14-0 going into the fifth inning.
Jenna Creger was in the circle for the Bearcats and continued her strong senior campaign. Creger got the complete game shutout for her sixth win of the year and carries a microscopic 0.61 ERA this season. The senior struck out 11 and gave up three hits and one unearned run and did not allow a free pass.
Abbie Vitosh got the ball for Northwest in game two. Vitosh gave up three runs early but shut SBU down the rest of the way for the win, which makes her 4-2 on the season. Vitosh struck out seven allowing three hits and three earned runs on her way to the complete game victory.
The score was 3-0 SBU going into the bottom of the third inning when the green and white Bearcats picked it up offensively. Sherer led off the inning with a single to left follow my Schmitz who had a bunt single. After Ereth reach on a fielder’s choice Candace Miller was thrown out on a fielder’s choice that scored Sherer. Hendricks stepped up and doubled down the left field line scoring two runs that tied the game up 3-3. Hendricks later scored on an RBI single by Kristine Labertew to put Northwest up 4-3.
One inning later Hailee Hendricks struck again as she doubled to left center scoring Ereth to go up by two runs. The Bearcats ran across two more runs in the sixth inning when Miller drove a triple to the right field fence scoring Ereth. Hendricks picked up her fourth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Miller.
Vitosh fielded a soft ground ball and threw out the SBU hitter at first for the final out of the game and secured Northwest’s 12th win of the season.
The Bearcats are 12-4 and open up conference play 2-0. Head Coach Ryan Anderson’s team will dive right back into MIAA play as they will host Central Missouri at Platte Ridge Park in Platte City Saturday for a double header. Game one will start at 1 p.m. and will be followed by game two.
— NWMSU Sports Information —