ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Coaches aren't always right about their preseason predictions. Jen Bagley Trotter was this year. The 16-year Griffon Softball head coach predicted her team would have some offensive firepower this season, and they proved it on opening day.
 
The Griffons scored 19 runs through 12 innings and won two games at the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational in Arkadelphia, Arkansas on Friday. Missouri Western run-ruled Rogers State (Okla.), 9-1 in five innings to open the season and scored nine runs in the final two innings of a 10-4 win at co-host Ouachita Baptist.
 
HEADLINES

• The Griffons ended game one with a three-run bottom of the fifth to get the eight-run spread needed to end the game early
• Missouri Western turned a 4-1 deficit into a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning against Ouachita Baptist, then added five more runs in the seventh
• On the day, Missouri Western hit .339 as a team with four doubles and two home runs
• Missouri Western committed just two errors, one in each game, while its opponents totaled six
• Starting pitchers went 2-0, pitching all 12 innings with a 2.92 ERA

 
TOP PERFORMERS

• Katie Klosterman was 6-7 at the plate with a double, a home run, five RBIs and three runs scored on the day
• Sydney Washington went 3-7 at the plate with a double, a home run and five RBIs
• Shelbie Atwell was 3-8 with a double and four RBIs
• Barbara Billingsley took the win in game one, allowing just one hit with four walks and six strikeouts

UP NEXT
The Griffons head across the street Saturday to take on co-host Henderson State (2-0) at 10 a.m. before closing the event with a neutral site, non-conference game against MIAA foe Northeastern State (1-1) scheduled for noon.