ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Minnesota State Moorhead softball earned a split with (RV) Missouri Western on Thursday afternoon. A pinch-hit home run from
Lacey Camden in game two lifted the Dragons over the Griffons.
Game One
The Dragons would come out with a strong sense of offensive urgency, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Moorhead would load the bases thanks to hits from
Loie Moore and
Courtney Locke before
Lexie Wilson drove home the game's first run. MSUM would also secure a run via a bases loaded walk and a single from
Riley McKeever. The Dragons scored their fourth run of the inning on a Griffon error.
Missouri Western would be quick to respond in the home half, promptly taking back the lead with five runs on three hits. The 5-4 score would hold firm until the bottom of the third when the Griffons tacked on two more runs on four hits to lead 7-4. Moorhead was held without a hit in the second, third and fourth innings to preserve the Griffon lead. Missouri Western would end the game early in the home half of the fifth, scoring five runs on four hits to win 12-4.
Game Two
Moore would earn the second game's first hit in the top of the first thanks to a one-out double. However, Moorhead would not break the scoreless tie.
Brynna Farman would stymie the Griffons through four innings, only allowing one hit. The senior also logged four strikeouts to keep Missouri Western off the scoreboard.
Across the fourth and fifth innings, Moorhead would see hits from
Alivia Henderson and McKeever, but nothing would come across. Heading into the home half of the fifth frame, the teams remained in a scoreless tie. Farman would strand a runner on in the home half after surrendering just her second hit of the contest. In the top of the sixth, Wilson would make it to second base following a two-out walk. However, MSUM would come up empty handed again with the game still scoreless.
In the final inning, it was Moorhead who would finally break the scoring dryspell for both clubs.
Lacey Camden would come in to pinch hit to leadoff the frame, belting a solo home run to left field. It is Camden's second home run of the week and gave the Dragons a 1-0 lead with three outs left to achieve.
Alyssa Ochoa would secure her first pitching decision in the bottom half, securing a one-out double play to end the game in MSUM's favor.
Up Next
MSUM (2-19) concludes its Spring Break trip tomorrow in a doubleheader with Northwest Missouri State scheduled for noon.
