CONROE, Texas - The Nicole Thompson era of Griffon softball (1-1) officially kicked off on Friday night as Missouri Western split the opening doubleheader of the season at the Scrap Yard Sports Complex. Missouri Western suffered a narrow defeat against St. Edward's in their first game but came back strong with a solid five-run win over Midwestern State.
 
"I was very proud to see this group fight today. In game one, we came up short but had chances to score and had some defensive miscues," Thompson commented. "Syd pitched well, and we just didn't come up with a timely hit when we needed it at the end of the game."
 
"In the second game, I was so proud to see Harley and her confidence in the mound. She had great control and mixed speeds well," Thompson added. "It was so great to see our offense come alive and make the adjustments we did. Our 1-9 lineup was a huge contributor."
 
Action from the D2 First Pitch Invitational will resume tomorrow against Texas A&M International at 11:00 a.m. and Texas Woman's University at 4:00 p.m.
 
GAME ONE: MWSU 3, SEU 4
The Griffons showed late heroics by erasing a three-run deficit in the sixth inning of the season-opener but fell just short of the St. Edwards.
 
The Hilltoppers took the lead in the fourth with an RBI double and added two more runs in the top of the sixth, bringing their score to 3-0. However, the Griffons responded with a trio of runs of their own in the sixth that was sparked by a lead-off double from Mackenzie DeVine to even the game at 3-3.
 
St. Edwards regained the lead in the seventh inning with an RBI ground out, putting them ahead 4-3. With the tying run in scoring position and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Hilltoppers secured their second all-time victory over the two programs with a strikeout to claim a one-run win.
 
Senior Sydney Rader (0-1) received the nod and went the distance to open the season in the circle for Missouri Western. She collected four strikeouts in her 76th career start and allowed only two earned runs.
 
DeVine opened her senior campaign strong at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run and a walk. Junior transfer Sienna Reed collected her first hit in a Griffon uniform, and freshman dual athlete Morgan Byrd at her first career hit.
 
GAME TWO: MWSU 13, MSU 8
Missouri Western showcased a dominant offensive effort with 13 total runs in game two. This secured Western's first win of the season and marked Thompson's first victory as the Griffons head coach.
 
Western established momentum early by scoring five runs in the first inning and adding another in the second, taking a commanding lead they held for the game. Reed led the offense with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, including her first extra-base hit (double) in the fourth inning. Kalee Higdon and Taylor Jones also shined with two hits each.
 
Junior Harley Pruetting (1-0) achieved her 22nd winning decision in her 37th career start for the Griffons. The Gardner, Kansas native pitched 5.1 innings, striking out eight batters while allowing only two hits and two earned runs.