JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Western softball team closed out its regular season on Saturday as they lost both games of their doubleheader at Missouri Southern. The Griffons lost the opener, 4-3, and they fell in game two, 3-2. MWSU is now 27-17 and they finish 16-10 in the MIAA.
GAME 1 – Missouri Southern 4, Missouri Western 3
The two teams traded runs in the first inning before Missouri Western took a 3-1 lead in the third when
Sydney Rader and
Maddie Swanson each had two-out RBI singles. Southern came back with a run in the bottom of the third and an unearned run in the fourth inning to tie it. Then the Lions took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out run and MWSU went 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh inning.
The Griffons had just two of their seven hits after the third inning.
Emma Hoffart led MWSU with two hits, one runs and one RBI.
Taylor Hoelscher and
Chloe Armstrong added one hit and one run scored each.
Rader started in the circle and went 5+ innings as she allowed just one earned run and seven hits.
Natalie Kissinger suffered the loss in relief as she allowed one on three hits in her one inning of work.
GAME 2 – Missouri Southern 3, Missouri Western 2
The Griffons played from behind in game two as MSSU scored one run in the first inning before
Sierra Culver answered for Missouri Western with a two-out RBI single in the second to tie the game. The Lions scored two more in the third inning to take a 3-1, but MWSU answered back and had a chance for a big inning in the fourth.
Culver drove in another run with her second single and the Griffs had the bases loaded with no outs, but failed to score another run. They had just one hit over the final three innings as Missouri Southern held on for the sweep.
Brea Blanton and
Rachel Stewart each scored a run for Missouri Western.
Kaili Hinds suffered the loss as she threw a complete game and allowed three runs on four hits.
UP NEXT
Missouri Western will play in the MIAA Tournament quarterfinals beginning Friday on campus sites. The official bracket for the tournament will be released on Monday. Eight teams will qualify for the MIAA tournament this season and the quarterfinals will be a best-of-three series with the winners advancing to the MIAA semifinals in Edmond, Oklahoma for a double-elimination tournament.
