ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western softball team lost back-to-back one run games Saturday at the Hy-Vee Classic as MWSU has dropped four straight games and they're 11-5 this season.  The Griffons lost to Bemidji State in the first game Saturday, 1-0, and then fell to Minnesota State, 2-1.
 
GAME 1 – Bemidji State 1, Missouri Western 0
Missouri Western allowed one unearned run in the second inning and that was enough for Bemidji State as they held off the Griffons in the final two innings. 
 
MWSU had runners at first and third with one out in the sixth inning, but Chloe Armstrong popped out to second base and Emma Hoffart was doubled off of first.  Then in the seventh inning the Griffons had the same situation with runners on the corners with one out and were unable to score again.
 
Natalie Kissinger made her first career start and allowed three hits in five innings of work.  She struck out four and walked five.  Kaili Hinds threw two scoreless innings of relief as both Griffon pitcher were able to work out of trouble as the Beavers left 12 runners on base.
 
Hoffart had two of Missouri Western's six hits, while Brea Blanton had the only extra base hit with a double in the third inning.
 
GAME 2 – Minnesota State 2, Missouri Western 1
The Griffons allowed two unearned runs in their second game and Minnesota State was also able to hold off another Missouri Western rally.
 
The Mavericks scored an unearned run in the second before Emma Hoffart tied the game with a two-out RBI single in the third inning.  MSU then regained the lead in the fifth inning after MWSU's third error of the game.
 
In the sixth, Hoffart and Armstrong reached base to start the inning and the Griffons eventually had runners at second and third with one out.  Sydney Rader then bunted and was thrown out at first base and Hoffart tried to score from third and was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.  MWSU also had the tying run on second base with one out in the seventh inning and they were unable to get a base hit.
 
Rader (5-2) threw a complete game for the Griffons as she allowed six hits, struck out five and didn't walk batter.  Hoffart had two of Missouri Western's four hits, while Taylor Hoelscher and Kalyn Dagaard added one single each.
 
UP NEXT
Missouri Western will play its final two games of the Hy-Vee Classic Sunday at the Griffon Spring Sports Complex as they host Winona State at 2:00 p.m. and Upper Iowa at 4:00 p.m.