The Missouri Western softball team hit six home runs in a doubleheaders sweep against the Lincoln Blue Tigers on Saturday (April 12). Missouri Western took game one 8-1  before taking the twin-bill sweep 12-2 in five innings in game two. The Griffons hit three home runs in both games improving their record to 31-15 overall and 14-8 in MIAA play.

Game 1
MWSU 8
LU 1

Missouri Western scored in four of the seven innings earning an 8-1 victory over the Blue Tigers in game one. After getting down 1-0 after one the Griffons scored eight unanswered runs in the victory. The Griffons earn their 30th victory of the season with the win while senior Jackie Bishop improves to 20-7 on the season.

After getting down 1-0 after the first inning the Griffons responded nicely with four runs on six hits in the second inning. Brooke Schaben tied the score at one with a lead of homer. Taylor Anding singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kat Steponovich. Katie Kosterman doubled to centerfield and then Anding and Kosterman scored on a single to right center by Michelle Stevenson making the score 3-1. Later in the inning Stevenson scored on a Bre Fleschner single to shortstop giving the Griffons the 4-1 lead after two.

The score stayed that way until the fourth when the Griffons strung something together with two outs. Fleschner got hit by a pitch and scored after back-to-back singles by Washington and Gillaspy giving the Griffons a 5-1 lead after four. In the 5th Anding led off with her fourth homer of the season putting one more run on the scoreboard for the Griffons. The Griffons used the long ball once again in the 7th when Klosterman blasted her second homer of the season giving the Griffons an 8-1 lead after six and a half.

Taylor Schaben came in to relieve Bishop going two innings giving up one walk with one strikeout.

The Griffons had 15 hits in the game with all nine players getting a hit. Anding led the way going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Fleschner, Washington and Kosterman all had two hits as well.

The Blue Tigers had six hits with Kircher and Shantae Duren each getting two. Jessica Cook pitched just two innings in the loss. She went two innings giving up six hits and four earned runs. Alyssa Laudwig went five innings in relief giving up nine hits and four earned runs. Cook falls to 2-15 with the loss.

Game 2
MWSU 12
LU 2 (5 innings)

The Griffons jumped all over the Blue Tigers in game two scoring 11 runs in the first three innings of play picking up a 12-2 run rule victory. The Griffons pounded out 13 hits with eight extra bases hits in the contest. Gillaspy went 3-for-3 with five RBI, two runs scored on a double and two home runs. She has hit 11 home runs on the season.

In the first inning Fleschner led off with a double down the right field line and Washington got hit by a pitch. Gillaspy then blasted her first homer of the game giving the Griffons the 3-0 lead. Anding and Klosterman got hit by a pitch and advanced to second and third. Stevenson hit a sac fly and Rathman doubled giving the Griffons the 5-0 lead after one inning.

In the second two more home runs gave the Griffons an 8-0 lead after two. Gillaspy hit a solo homer and Steponovich hit her 7th homer of the year scoring Anding. In the third five more hits by the Griffons scored three more run. Washington and Gillaspy each got RBI hits while Washington scored on a passed ball.

The score stayed that way until Megan Korgie got her first hit of her career. She hit a double in the fifth scoring Washington giving the Griffons the 12-0 lead. Janie Smith gave up two runs on two hits in the 5th but picked up the victory. Smith improved to 11-8 going all five innings giving up four hits and one earned run with three strikeouts.

Washington and Stevenson both had two hits in the game. Washington scored three runs while Anding scored two.

The Blue Tigers fall to 3-34 on the season and 0-22 in MIAA play. They had four hits as Alyssa Laudwig got the loss. She gave up two hits and three runs.

The Griffons return to action on Friday, April 25 when they host Northeastern State University in an MIAA doubleheader. Game time is set for 4:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —