Jackie Bishop ended a dominate performance by striking out her career best 17th batter in the top of the 7th inning with the tying run on second picking up the 3-1 victory and advancing to the MIAA Softball Tournament Championship. Missouri Western advances to the MIAA Tournament Championship for the first time since 2012 and they’re now 37-16 on the season.

In game that started out as a pitcher’s duel Missouri Western escaped with a 3-1 victory over Northeastern State. The win puts MWSU in Saturday’s championship game and send Northeastern State to tonight’s game against top seed Emporia State.

After walking the first batter of the game, Bishop went on to strikeout 10 straight RiverHawks before a pop up my Northeastern State. The only hit either pitcher gave through six innings was in the first when Tiffany Gillaspy got a single extending her hitting streak to 21 games.

After the RiverHawks got a two out double by Lauren Lanary and scored on a single by Madison Reed giving them a 1-0 lead in the top of the 6th. In the bottom of the 6th the Griffons pieced together sive hits and took advantage of one NSU error. Morgan Rathmann homered starting the scoring in the sixth and Bre Fleschner and Sydney Washington scored runs to put the Griffons ahead.

In the circle Bishop went seven innings allowing four hits and only one earned run while striking out 17 on the afternoon. She improves to 24-8 on the season. Kayce Wooldridge went six innings for NSU striking out three and allowing just six hits and one earned run.

— MWSU Sports Information —