ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Softball (34-14, 21-5) ended the regular season with its eighth consecutive MIAA doubleheader sweep, taking two games from Emporia State (25-26, 14-12) on Senior Day at the Spring Sports Complex.
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Missouri Western produced big innings to come back from small early deficits in both games, winning game one 6-2 and game two 14-3 in five innings. The 16-game win streak matched the longest for the program in four seasons.
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GAME 1
Missouri Western 6, Emporia State 2
- Emporia State took a 2-1 lead in the second, but MWSU led for good after a four-run third
- Kenzie Hilzer held the Hornets to two runs on four hits and evened her record at 7-7, her third straight win with her last loss coming on April 1
- The Griffons had nine hits and didn't' commit an error
- Morgan Frost, Gabi Carter, Emma Hoffart and Taylor Hoelscher each had two hits
- Hoffart drove in three, including a two-run home run in the third
- Frost hit her 21st double of the season in the first, moving into sole possession of the second most by a Griffon in a single season and four away from tying MWSU's single season record
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GAME 2
Missouri Western 14, Emporia State 3
- The Hornets scored two in the first before MWSU was able to record an out, but didn't score again until the fifth
- The Griffons scored eight in the bottom of the first to take a commanding lead
- MWSU took advantage of an ESU error that would have been the second out of the first with the next eight Griffs reaching before a double play ended the big inning
- The eight-run first included back-to-back doubles by Hoffart and Sydni Hawkins before a Cassidy Kelsheimer two-run home run
- Kaili Hinds won for the 15th time this season, holding ESU to two earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk
- Brea Blanton and Hawkins each drove in three runs
- Hoffart, Hawkins and Kelsheimer had two hits apiece
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MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKET SET
- The Griffons are the No. 2 seed in next week's MIAA Championships in Edmond, Oklahoma
- Missouri Western will play No. 7 seed Pittsburg State at 6:30 p.m. on May 1
- More information on the tournament can be found here
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