HAYS, Kan. – The Missouri Western softball team played a doubleheader against Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday in Hays, Kansas due to inclement weather and poor field conditions in Kearney.  The Griffons split their two games with the Lopers as UNK won the opener, 7-5, and MWSU rolled to a 13-1 win in game two.
 
Missouri Western is now 23-11 this season and 12-4 in the MIAA.
 
GAME 1 – Nebraska-Kearney 7, Missouri Western 5
UNK scored three runs in the second inning of game one and added three more in the third to jump out to a 6-1 lead.  The Lopers knocked out Griffon starter Sydney Rader after three innings, as she falls to 10-5 this season.  All six runs were earned as she gave up eight hits in her three innings.
 
MWSU rallied with four runs in the fourth inning to pull within one run, 6-5, but that's as close as they would get.
 
Sydni Hawkins, Emma Hoffart and Maddie Swanson led Missouri Western with two hits each.  Hawkins hit her seventh home run of the season and reached base all four plate appearance as she also had two walks.
 
GAME 2 – Missouri Western 13, Nebraska-Kearney 1 (5 Innings)
Game two was a much different story as the Griffons scored six runs in the second inning and cruised to a run-rule victory in five innings.
 
Chloe Armstrong hit two home runs in the victory and tied a school record with seven RBI.  She equals the record set by Shelbie Atwell and Taylor Hamilton as they both had seven RBI in a game during the 2016 season.
 
Hawkins went 4-for-4 and scored four runs in game two as she's now hitting .548 on the season.  Sierra Culver added a home run for the Griffs, Hoffart drove in three and Kalyn Damgaard went 2-for-2 with three runs scored.
 
Kaili Hinds improved to 11-3 in the circle as she allowed one unearned run in five innings and gave up just three hits.
 
UP NEXT
Missouri Western will stay in Hays and play a doubleheader Sunday against the Fort Hays State Tigers beginning at 12:00 p.m.