Northwest softball first-year coach Naomi Tellez stated the aim for the weekend was to get an MIAA sweep. The Bearcats did simply that.
With just a little assist from head-strong Maryville winds, the Bearcats accomplished a two-game sweep of convention foe Pittsburg State, 11-1 and 5-4, April 23 on the Bearcat Softball Subject.
“We determined, as a workforce, that we may both complain concerning the wind or embrace it,” freshman first baseman Skylar Pieper stated. “We selected to embrace it.”
Pieper began the sport for Northwest (12-35) with a solo residence run that was carried over the right-field fence by the wind. Pieper’s hit sparked the Bearcat offense and earlier than the tip of the primary inning, Northwest had taken a 3-0 lead due to junior catcher Madison Friest, who smacked successful to proper subject to herald a pair of runners.
“As soon as Skylar hit that, we simply didn’t cease,” Tellez stated.
Pitt State (22-25) continued to wrestle within the high of the second inning, as Northwest sophomore infielder Abby Nolte shot a ball down the first-base line, paving the best way for Pieper to step throughout residence plate.
Sophomore utility Lauren Grey stepped up subsequent and blasted a grand slam to proper subject with two outs left within the high of the second inning to present the Bearcats an 8-0 lead.
“I had feeling about our hitting; all of us did,” Pieper stated. “Hitting is contagious — as soon as it begins, everybody else follows. Everybody fed off that power, and within the blink of a watch, we had been up eight runs within the second inning.”
With the Gorillas nonetheless in a hunch, Northwest continued its dynamic batting, including one other run from junior outfielder Brylee Kemper’s solo shot within the high of the third. Pitt State managed to nab a run within the backside of the third from sophomore utility Kori Stonestreet.
Nonetheless, the Bearcats continued to assault within the fourth inning, capping off their scorching batting with back-to-back residence runs from Friest and Nolte. Northwest led Pitt State 11-1 on the finish of the fourth inning.
The Bearcats held onto their lead with the assistance of sophomore Breck Dickey, who solely allowed 5 hits and had 9 strikeouts within the first sport. With Dickey scorching on the mound, the Bearcats took the primary sport from the Gorillas 11-1.
“It was actually enjoyable,” Tellez stated. “We simply dominated.”
Within the second sport, Northwest rallied from a 4-1 deficit to take a walk-off, 5-4 win over the Gorillas.
Friest began the sport with a solo residence run within the backside of the primary inning to present the Bearcats a 1-0 lead, however then they didn’t rating till the underside of the sixth.
The Gorillas emerged from their hitting hunch, rattling off 4 runs within the second and third innings to take a 4-1 lead.
“We form of hit a lifeless spot within the center, however we simply needed to experience our power,” Tellez stated.
Northwest mustered its power to carry Pitt scoreless for the fifth and sixth innings, and, lastly, Nolte linked with a ball within the backside of the sixth. She despatched it over heart subject for her second residence run of the day to carry the Bearcats inside two runs.
Northwest sophomore pitchers Hayden Simmons and Raven McFrain continued to immobilize the Gorilla offense and set the Bearcats up for the walk-off win within the backside of the seventh inning.
“We’ve had actually good outings from a pitching perspective,” Tellez stated. “Hayden and Raven within the second sport, they saved us in it and simply by no means stopped combating.”
With two outs left and a pair of runners on base, junior infielder Olivia Daugherty hit a single to proper subject, clearing the best way for Pieper to slip residence to shrink the Gorillas’ result in 4-3.
Like earlier than, Nolte stepped as much as the plate, smacked a ball over the middle fielder and introduced residence junior utility Jacee Winn and Daugherty for the comeback win.
“Having individuals like Abby within the lineup behind you, you may have that further feeling of reassurance,” Pieper stated. “You may belief that in case you do your half, they may come via and do theirs.”
Northwest continued its streak April 26, defeating Missouri Southern (24-20) 3-1 within the first contest, however the Bearcats misplaced the second matchup 5-0.
The Bearcats will shut out their season on the highway April 29 towards Central Missouri (15-32) and April 30 towards Lincoln (12-31).