Griffon Softball spoil Northwest senior day with sweep

MARYVILLE, Mo. (KQTV) -- Defense then offense helped Griffon Softball pull off the sweep against Northwest Missouri State University on the road Friday afternoon.

In game one, MoWest jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning.

This inning started with a single to center by Sophie Johnson, bringing in Kalee Higdon for Missouri Western. Soon after, a wild pitch allowed two more runs, pushing the score to 3-0.

Then junior catcher Sydney Young's sac fly brought in Kenedee Giddens for Griffon Softball to make it 4-0.

Despite a tough day, Northwest's Jadyn Streigle pitched the whole game, with her defense holding MoWest scoreless after inning two.

MoWest's starting pitcher, Harley Pruetting, posted nine strikeouts and allowed only six hits on 108 pitches, securing a 4-0 win in game one.

"When we start the game with runs, it's always easier for me to do my job, because then I know what I have to hold them to," Pruetting shared after the doubleheader. "So in my eyes, that's all my job is. So I just go out there and try to be every batter and take them one at a time."

Griffon Softball scored through smart base running in the second game, with Morgan Byrd on a wild pitch and Brooklyn Clark stealing home, making it 3-0 in the second inning.

Griffon Softball Head Coach Nicole Thompson expressed pride in her team's skill at field awareness and maximizing opportunities.

"That's our identity. Yes. Do we have a lot of home runs this year? But you're going to have days like this when the wind's blowing in," Thompson said. "How can we score in different ways, and so when we score in different ways, it's. We cause havoc on the bases. And I think our base runners did that. We're smart. We want to get an extra 60ft."

After that, a walk and two singles from the Griffons spoiled Senior Day for the Bearcats, giving MoWest an 8-0 win in game two.

Griffon Softball finished the regular season with a 32-17 overall record and 11-13 in MIAA play, extending its win streak to seven games. Northwest Softball finished with a 31-20 overall record and 10-14 in the MIAA.

Both teams advance to the MIAA Conference Tournament. Coach Thompson wants Griffon Softball to maintain momentum.

"I think we can understand that we can beat anybody that's at that tournament. But the belief needs to come within our group. And I think it's there. So the momentum going in is big."

Both teams now await tournament seeding. The MIAA Conference Tournament runs May 6-10 in Emporia, Kan.