HAYS, Kan. – Griffon Softball's Jekyll and Hyde routine continued Friday at Fort Hays State, but changes to the lineup may have revealed an elixir for what has ailed the team.
 
Missouri Western (29-15, 9-9) split its third straight doubleheader, winning game two for the third time in a row. It was the game two performance that really stood out as the Griffons bashed four home runs and 18 hits in a 14-3 run-rule victory. The 18-run day also produced Morgan Rathmann's third MWSU career record as the second of her three runs scored in the series was the 173^rd of her career.
 
BIG PRODUCTION IN GAME TWO
The 18 hits in game two were a season-high for the team and its 14 runs were the most since scoring 14 against St. Cloud State on March 18. The four home runs were the most since game two of the Lindenwood doubleheader on March 9. Sydney Washington homered twice in the game, her first since hitting one in each game of the Northeastern State series on March 25.  
 
TWO RECORDS BROKEN
Along with Rathmann's runs scored record, the Griffons also broke an MWSU team record with four hit batters in game one. Rathmann now leads the program all-time in runs scored, triples and stolen bases.
 
LINEUP SHAKE UP
Jen Bagley Trotter said she planned changes to her lineup, and they were revealed Friday. The lineup was different for both games and neither was what it has been through the team's first 42 games. The game two lineup produced intriguing results with Kailey Green moving up to No. 3 and Katie Klosterman going down to No. 6. That was after Trotter moved Shelby Uhl to the leadoff spot for game one and hit Rathmann No. 9. Rathmann went 5-for-6 on the day with two doubles and three RBIs. Four of those hits came in game two from the leadoff spot. Kenzie Hilzer pitched game one after a great run through her previous five starts, but the freshman took the loss while Barbara Billingsley picked up her first win since March 26 at Central Oklahoma.
 
MUELLER STAYS HOT
Rebekah Mueller went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBIs in the series. The junior catcher has five-straight two-hit games, and has batted .769 and slugged 1.308 in that stretch with a double, two home runs and five RBIs.  
 
NOTING GAINED, NOTHING LOST
The Griffons weren't hurt by Friday's split because everyone else in the MIAA also split. It also made it impossible for Missouri Western to make-up any ground in the standings, where the team's 9-9 conference record still has them in ninth place.
 
UP NEXT
Missouri Western travels to Nebraska-Kearney (8-40, 5-17) Saturday for a noon doubleheader. The Lopers split with Northwest Missouri State on Friday.