Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Softball team battled against the Missouri Western Griffons in a long game one (11 innings) that ended in a 1-0 losing decision before falling to the Griffins in game two by a score of 10-5 inside the Pat Lipira Softball Complex Friday evening.
Game One
The Lions (17-20, 8-12 MIAA) and the Missouri Western Griffons (28-14, 15-5 MIAA) battled back and forth throughout the game trying to score the first run.
It got interesting in the top of ninth when the Griffons had a runner on first and second with one out. Taylor Hoelscher singled to right field and the Griffons sent the runner home looking for the lead, but Lions’ Lexi Ferrari gunned the ball home to catcher Angel Badalamenti for the tag to prevent the Griffons from scoring in their half of the ninth.
Then in the bottom of the tenth with two outs and a runner on first, Elizabeth Windsor singled through the right side as Emilee Myer was off on the pitch. Meyer rounded third for home after the shortstop mishandled the relay, but the ball was picked up and thrown home to tag out Meyer and keep the game scoreless after ten.
The Griffons broke the tie in the top of the 11th on a sacrifice fly where the runner just crossed the plate before Badalamenti could put on the tag.
Windsor led the squad with three hits on five opportunities while Makaila Leonhart went 2-for-4 in the two spot. Senior pitcher Taurean Guzman went the distance, allowing one run on eight hits and striking out two in the loss.
Game Two
After going scoreless for ten innings in the first game, the Griffons jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first and added another in the third to go up, 4-0. The Lions responded with four doubles in the fourth to pull within one, heading to the fifth (6-5).
MWSU extended its advantage after scoring one in the fifth and three in the seventh toward the victory.
Ashley Caldarella, Emily Harris, Josie Tofpi, and Windsor each registered two hits at the plate and combined for four runs scored. Leonhart added a 1-for-2 stand with two walks, a run scored, and an RBI.
