SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Missouri Western softball team split a doubleheader at Drury on Thursday as they won the opener in nine innings, 4-3, but lost game two, 5-2.  The Griffons are now 5-1 this season, while Drury is 4-3.
 
GAME 1 – Missouri Western 4, Drury 3 (9 Innings)
The two teams went back-and-forth through the first four innings as MWSU scored in the first on an RBI single by Chloe Armstrong and they added a run in the third on an Emma Hoffart sacrifice fly.  Drury scored single runs in the second and fourth as the game was tied 2-2 until Brea Blanton hit a solo home run in the sixth to give the Griffons the lead. 
 
Missouri Western was one out away from a win but the Panthers were able to tie the game on a throwing error to force extra innings.  It stayed 3-3 until Sierra Culver hit a two-out double to score Rachel Stewart from first base and Sydney Rader shut down Drury in the bottom half of the inning to get the win.
 
Stewart went all nine innings to improve to 3-0 in the circle.  She allowed two earned runs and eight hits, while Rader struck out five and walked three.  Sydni Hawkins had three hits to lead the Griffs, while Culver and Taylor Hoelscher added two each.
 
GAME 2 – Drury 5, Missouri Western 2
In the nightcap, Sierra Culver hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to put Missouri Western ahead 2-1, but Drury answered back with a four-run sixth inning to rally for the win.
 
Culver and Emma Hoffart had two hits each as MWSU was held to five hits in game two.  Kelly Uthe suffered the loss as she allowed two earned runs in 5.1 innings.  Uthe gave up just two hits as she had two strikeouts and two walks.
 
UP NEXT
After playing its first six games away from home, Missouri Western begins a 14-game homestand at the Griffon Spring Sports Complex.  It begins on Sunday as MWSU will host Sioux Falls in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m.