MANKATO, Minn. — Saturday's doubleheader finale at the Minnesota State DII Softball Classic went late, as Missouri Western experienced extra innings and a near comeback to close out its time at the Maverick All-Sports Dome.
GAME 1
Minnesota Duluth 8, Missouri Western 5 (8 inn.)
In a game that saw five lead changes and four ties, Missouri Western (1-3) traded blows with the Bulldogs of Minnesota Duluth throughout the evening. Duluth (4-0) took a 4-2 lead in the top of the fourth, but a
Kennedy Preston two-RBI single scored
Sydni Hawkins and
Mackenzie DeVine, putting MWSU even with UMD on the board. The score stayed still until the top of the ninth when the Bulldogs took a 5-4 lead. This time, Hawkins played hero with an RBI single to bring home
Chloe Armstrong and tie the game at 5-5.
However, UMD put three runs on the board in the top of 11th, eventually winning with a one-two-three bottom frame of the 11th.
GAME 2
Minnesota State-Mankato 7, Missouri Western 6
Preston kept the pop in her bat going into game two, smashing a two-run home run to bring home
Kalee Higdon as well and take a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Minnesota State-Mankato (2-1) immediately responded with three unearned runs in the bottom of the third thanks to a one-out Griffon error, taking MWSU pitcher
Harley Pruetting out of the game early. After Mankato built its lead to 6-2, an RBI double from Pruetting in the fifth sparked the flames of a Griffon-comeback attempt.
Now facing a 7-3 deficit in the sixth, Hawkins sent home
Kaylea Fessler with an RBI rip through the left side. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Higdon stepped up to the plate and delivered a two-RBI slash right back up the middle, scoring
Taylor Jones and DeVine to cut the Mankato lead to 7-6.
After two MWSU outs in the seventh, DeVine reached base on an error by the shortstop, giving the Griffons life. However, Jones smoked a line drive right back into Mankato pitcher Sophia Del Vecchio's glove, ending Missouri Western's comeback bid.
NOTABLES
- Hawkins went 6-for-9 overall with two RBI, two runs scored and one walk.
- Preston finished the day with a team-high four RBI, going 2-for-6 at the plate with a home run and a double. She also walked three times vs. Mankato.
- Preston's home run in game two is the first of her Griffon career.
- Higdon had a 3-for-8 day with three RB, hitting two doubles.
- Through two games and 6.1 innings pitched, Sam Pederson struck out 12 batters, fanning four vs. Duluth and eight against Mankato.
UP NEXT
Missouri Western takes a small break before traveling to Bentonville, Arkansas, to compete in the Alvy Early Memorial Classic from Feb. 10-12. The Griffons' first day of doubleheader competition includes Arkansas Tech and Southwest Baptist.
