ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – A pair of optimal outings by
Sydney Rader and
Natalie Kissinger provided a memorable Friday afternoon for Griffon Softball's five seniors in a doubleheader sweep of Pittsburg State at the Griffon Sports Complex.
GAME 1
MWSU 2, Pitt State 1
Emma Hoffart's two-RBI single in the third gave the Griffons all they needed in game one' s 2-1 victory. Hoffart slapped a single up the middle that slipped past second baseman Taylor Lambert to score
Sydni Hawkins and
Brea Blanton. Rader (13-7) gave up a solo home run to Kianna Pellegrio in the fourth, but it didn't hinder her seven-strikeout performance. Rader's complete game on Saturday is her 12th of the season – the fourth most in the MIAA.
NOTABLES
- With seven more strikeouts, Rader is third in the conference with 155 tickets punched.
- This is MWSU's fifth one-run victory of 2022 (5-6 record in those games).
GAME 2
MWSU 12, Pitt State 3 - Final/8
While it was rocky at first, a five-RBI outing by the Griffons' first four hitters rallied them back to a 12-3 run-rule victory. Down 1-0 in the first, Kissinger was taken deep to left field by Keelah Griffith for a two-run shot. Missouri Western (21-20, 11-9 MIAA) shot back in the bottom half of the first with a two-run double by Hoffart, trimming the lead down to 3-2.
Taylor Hoelscher and
Kalyn Damgaard drew back-to-back walks later in the inning to put MWSU up 4-3. Hawkins sent a single to center field to bring home
Natalee Weber for the 6-3 lead.
Chloe Armstrong finished the scoring the same way Hoffart started the inning – a double to center field that brough her senior teammate home.
Senior
Rachel Stewart capped her team's 12-0 run with a fielder's choice RBI that scored Damgaard in the fourth, putting Pitt State (22-23, 4-16 MIAA) against the wall with just three more outs to work with in the top of the fifth before the mercy rule took effect. Kissinger (8-11) struck out two in five innings while only giving up the initial inning's three earned runs.
NOTABLES
- Sydni Hawkins: 1-for-3, 1 BB, 3 RBI, 1 R,
- Emma Hoffart: 2-for-3, 1BB, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Hoffart's four-RBI day gives her 39 this season, which lands her at ninth place in the conference.
- Kalyn Damgaard: 1-for-1, 2 BB, 3 RBI, 1 R
- Brea Blanton: 1-for-2, 1 BB, 1 2B
NEXT UP
Missouri Western prepares for a rescheduled doubleheader with Missouri Southern (23-18. 11-7 MIAA) this Wednesday at 2 and 4 p.m. back at the Spring Sports Complex. The Lions have loss their last three-of-four games and are returning from a brief stint in COVID protocols.
