The Missouri Western softball team tried to rally in both games on the second day of the MIAA Softball Tournament but was defeated twice by one run. Western fell in their first game of the day 6-5 against Nebraska-Omaha before Fort Hays State defeated the Griffons 3-2 in eight innings. The Griffons fall to 40-13 overall and will have to wait to see if they will make the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament.
Game One: Nebraska-Omaha 6, Missouri Western 5
The game did not start off the way the Griffons had hoped as they left the bases loaded in the top of the first. The Mavericks followed that with a four run inning using two hits and one Griffon error to go up 4-0 after one inning. The Griffons left two more runners on base in the second before Taylor Anding hit a grand slam in the third tying the score at four after three innings. That was Anding’s fifth home run of the season and first since March 15 when she hit one against Central Oklahoma.
In the fourth inning the Mavericks regained the lead on a Lauren Larson single to right field scoring Alli Hukill. The Griffons responded once again in the fifth when Toni Dance smashed her 13th home run of the season over the left center field fence tying the score at five.
In the bottom of the sixth Larson struck again hitting a home run to center field giving the Mavericks the 6-5 victory. The Griffons scattered six hit with six different players getting hits. The Griffons left eight runners on base. Jonnelle Belger went 3.1 innings giving up two earned runs and two hits while striking out five. Jackie Bishop went 2.2 innings in the loss giving up three hits and one earned run while striking out two. She falls to 25-4 on the season.
The Mavs had five hits with Larson going 3-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. Lindsey Slocum picked up the victory going 4.2 innings giving up three hits and one earned run. She improves to 14-5 overall. Beth Haley went just 2.1 innings giving up three hits and four earned runs while striking out four and giving five walks. UNO improves to 44-9 on the season and will play in the championship game tomorrow morning at 9:00 am.
Game Two: Fort Hays State 3, Missouri Western 2
In an elimination game against Fort Hays State Western’s comeback came up short. The two teams played three scoreless innings before the Tigers opened up 1-0 lead when Erin Dyok scored on a Malinee Powell single. Fort Hays took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth when Dyok blasted her third home run of the season.
In the top of the seventh Keri Lorbert reached on a throwing error by the short stop and then pinch runner Erin Widrig scored on a triple to left field by Dance. Dance tied the game at two on a two out single by Leah Steele.
The Tigers won the game in the bottom of the eighth when Taylor Nelson doubled down the right field line scoring Britney Workman. The Tigers are 30-21 on the season and advance to play UNO in the championship tomorrow morning at 9:00 am.
The Tigers had 10 hits with Maddie Holub, Dyok and Powell each going 2-4. The Tigers left eight runners on base. Holub improved to 15-7 on the season going eight innings giving up four hits while striking out three.
Jonnelle Belger falls to 15-8 for Western going 7.2 innings giving up 10 hits while striking out seven. Western had four hits in the contest and left four runners on base.
The Griffons will await to hear their fate on regionals later on Monday.
