SHAWNEE, Kan. – Griffon Softball (14-3) split Friday's action at the Midwest College Classic, falling to Winona State 6-0 in Game 1 before bouncing back with a 9-4 victory over Minnesota State Moorhead in Game 2.
Game 1: MoWest 0 Winona State 6
Winona State broke through in the second inning with a run before adding another in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. The Warriors created separation in the fifth, plating four runs to extend the advantage to 6-0.
MWSU was limited to three hits in the contest and was unable to generate sustained offense against Winona State's pitching. The Griffons had opportunities but could not push a run across as the Warriors finished with 10 hits on the day.
Game 2: MoWest 9 Minnesota State Moorhead 4
After a quiet start, the Griffons struck first in the fourth inning when
Sydney Young homered to right center, driving in
Ayva McComas to give MWSU a 2-0 lead. MSU Moorhead responded in the bottom half with a three-run home run to take a 3-2 advantage.
MWSU answered immediately in the fifth.
Kenedee Giddens delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3 scoring
Morgan Byrd unearned. Next, McComas reaching on an error that allowed multiple runs to score and push the lead to 6-3.
The Griffons continued to apply pressure in the sixth. Kalea Higdon added an RBI single, and MWSU took advantage of additional errors to extend the lead to 9-3 with three more runs in the frame.
MSU Moorhead scratched across an unearned run in the seventh, but MWSU closed the door to secure the 9-4 victory.
In the circle,
Aubrey Dare (W, 3-0) earned the victory, tossing 4.0 innings while allowing four hits and three earned runs with one walk and three strikeouts.
Torie Sandoval picked up the final 3.0 innings, surrendering just one hit and one unearned run while striking out three without issuing a walk.
What's Next
Griffon Softball wraps up play at the Midwest College Classic on Saturday with a 12:15 p.m. matchup against Bemidji State, followed by a 2:30 p.m. contest against Concordia-St. Paul in Shawnee, Kansas.
