MARYVILLE, Mo. - Griffon Softball (32-17, 11-13 MIAA) stretched its current winning streak to seven games with a 4-0 and 8-0 (6) sweep at Northwest Missouri State (31-20, 10-14 MIAA) on Friday at Bearcat Softball Field in Maryville.
MoWest has surged in the home stretch of the regular season, winning eight of their last nine. It marks their first doubleheader sweep over Northwest since 2021 and the first sweep in Maryville since 2020.
Game 1: MWSU 4 NWMSU 0
MoWest wasted no time in the first game, leading 4-0 by the second inning.
Sophie Johnson and
Brooklynn Clark each drove in runs on RBI singles in the first.
Sydney Young added a sac fly in the second.
Harley Pruetting (14-4) tossed her fifth complete game and second shutout of the season, holding Northwest to just six hits. She struck out nine and walked two.
Game 2: MWSU 8 NWMSU 0 (6 innings)
Just like the first game, MoWest found an early spark offensively in the second inning, leading 3-0 in that frame. The Griffons walked in the first run, scored the second on a wild pitch and stole home for the third.
Kalee Higdon walked in the fourth run in the sixth, while
Sydney Young and
Ashlyn Finarty each tacked on RBI singles in the sixth to stretch the lead to 8-0 in the sixth.
Sophie Johnson went 3-for-4 at the plate. Young and Finarty each had two RBIs. Higdon walked twice with one RBI.
Sienna Reed walked twice and scored by stealing home.
Aubrey Dare (5-3) finished the job in the sixth, giving her a complete game shutout - the first of her collegiate career. In the six innings, Dare struck out four and walked only one, allowing just three hits.
What's Next
MoWest now waits to see where they'll be seeded in the MIAA tournament, set for May 6-10 at the Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia, Kansas. The Griffons sit eighth in the MIAA standings as of May 1, and they could move up to the No. 7 seed or drop to the No. 9 seed. The bracket will be released Saturday evening.
