MARYVILLE, Mo. – Griffon Softball nearly pulled off an incredible comeback for a doubleheader sweep at No. 16 Northwest Missouri, but ultimately came up short in game two to earn a split on the day.
 
Game 2: #16 Northwest Missouri 10, MWSU 9 (8 innings)
Missouri Western got three-straight, two-out home runs to erase a 9-4 deficit in the top of the seventh and eventually force extra innings.
 
With two runners on and down to the team's last out, Taylor Hamilton blasted her second home run of the game over the left field fence to pull the Griffons within two. Kailey Green followed with a solo home run to left center then Katie Klosterman drilled a solo home run to left to tie the game at nine.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Northwest got runners at first and second on a single and a hit batter, then a single to left ended it when Sydney Washington let the ball bounce by her, allowing the runner on third to score.
 
The Griffons were in an early 6-0 hole after one inning. Hamilton hit a line drive, solo home run to right center in the fourth to make it 6-1. Northwest added another run on Shyanne Saladino in the fifth for another six-run lead. Green and Klosterman picked up RBI singles in the sixth to make it 7-4, but Northwest added two on a double in the sixth to put the Griffons down five heading to the seventh.
 
Janie Smith was tagged with the loss after entering for Saladino in the seventh. She pitched an inning and a third, allowing two hits and the game-winning run. After giving up four hits and six runs in the first, Saladino retired the Bearcats in order in the second, third and fourth innings before surrendering a double and a single in the fifth.
 
Hamilton went 3-4 in the game with four RBIs and two runs scored. Green was 3-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Klosterman was 2-4 with three RBIs and a run scored in game one.
 
Game 1: MWSU 4, #16 Northwest Missouri 0
Smith picked up her sixth complete game shutout of the season as Missouri Western broke a scoreless tie with three in the fifth and added another run in the sixth.
 
Smith held Northwest to just three hits while striking out eight and walking three. Sydney Washington went 3-3 in game one with a run scored. Morgan Rathmann drove in two with her one hit. Shelbie Atwell was 2-4 with an RBI.
 
The split left Missouri Western with a 26-10 overall record, 11-3 in the MIAA. The Griffons host Fort Hays State, Saturday in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at noon. They follow that up with a twin-bill against Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday at noon.