ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western softball team split a doubleheader with Washburn Tuesday in their final regular season doubleheader at the Spring Sports Complex. The Griffons beat the Ichabods in the opener, 8-3, but lost game two, 3-0. MWSU is now 25-15 this season and 14-8 in the MIAA.
GAME 1 – Missouri Western 8, Washburn 3
The opener was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning when pitcher
Sydney Rader hit her first career home run, a two-run shot to left field.
Sierra Culver added an RBI single to make it 3-0 and then Rader added an RBI double in the fifth.
Washburn came back with three runs in the top of the sixth inning and had the bases loaded with one out when Rader induced a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning. MWSU then put the game away with a four-run bottom of the sixth inning.
Rader went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored, and she earned the win in the circle. The freshman threw a complete game as she allowed three runs on nine hits and struck out seven.
Emma Hoffart added two hits, one RBI and one run, while
Sydni Hawkins went 1-for-2 with two runs, two RBI and two walks.
GAME 2 – Washburn 3, Missouri Western 0
The Ichabods scored three runs on three hits off of
Kaili Hinds in the top of the first inning, and that's all they'd get in game two.
Natalie Kissinger came on in relief for the final six innings and she allowed just two hits and had two strikeouts. Unfortunately, the Griffons offense wasn't able to get to Washburn pitcher Jaycee Ginter and they were shutout for the fifth time this season.
Hoffart had two of Missouri Western's seven hits, while
Taylor Hoelscher had the only extra base hit with a double. Hawkins, Rader and
Chloe Armstrong each added a single.
NEXT UP
The Griffons close out their regular season this weekend as they play a doubleheader at Pittsburg State on Friday beginning at 2:00 p.m. and at Missouri Southern on Saturday beginning at 12:00 p.m.
