ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Nothing like starting off your MIAA coaching career with a short and sweet doubleheader sweep.

Griffon Softball (7-11, 2-0 MIAA) took both games of Monday's doubleheader vs. Fort Hays State (10-14, 0-2 MIAA) to start conference plays with scores of 2-0 and 9-1. This sweep seals MWSU Head Coach Joe Yegge's first wins in the conference. 

Game 1

Sydney Rader pitched a gem of a complete outing in the opening matchup, shutting FHSU out on just two hits while striking out nine Tigers. Emma Hoffart's sacrifice fly to score Sydni Hawkins in the first inning is all Rader needed to record her second win of the season. Kalyn Damgaard also shot a sac fly to center field to score Bubba Hoelscher in the fifth inning.

Game 2

It only took five innings for Missouri Western to wash away Fort Hays in game two thanks to strong performances by Natalie Kissinger and Chloe Armstrong. The first meeting was for the pitchers, but the second belonged to the bats. After building a 3-1 lead early on, Armstrong lived up to her name with a deep three-run home run to left field, scoring Hawkins and Damgaard. 

Monday's scoring ended just like it began with Hoffart sending a sac fly deep enough to center to score Brea Blanton, ending the game on a mercy-rule walkoff. 

Next Up

Coach Yegge and the Griffons have a chance to grab two more MIAA wins on Tuesday against Nebraska-Kearney (8-13, 2-0 MIAA) at 12 and 2 p.m. back at the Spring Sports Complex. The Lopers swept Northwest Missouri State (5-18, 0-2 MIAA) 12-4 and 4-1 in a doubleheader on Monday as well.