Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 JOPLIN, MO. – The University of Sioux Falls Softball Team (5-2) split a nonconference doubleheader with Missouri Western (9-5) on Sunday afternoon. The Cougars jumped to a big lead early and held off a late MWSU rally for a 9-8 decision in game one before falling 6-2 in game two. 

Game one:  Sioux Falls 9, Missouri Western State 8

In the opener, USF had a strong start from Kerrigan Hoshaw (1-1) and an explosive offense to pick up their fifth win in six games. Kerrigan started and earned the win after going 5 2/3 innings. She allowed eight hits on four runs while recording two strikeouts and two walks in facing 22 batters. Freshman pitcher Kaitlyn ZanDerZwaag also threw 1 1/3 innings and allowed five hits and four runs with a strikeout.

Freshman outfielder Lexie Swift led the offense by going 2-of-4 with a run scored. Sophomore Ashley Meyer added two hits with two RBI and a run scored.  The Cougars took a 5-1 lead in the first and added four runs in the third before MWSU rallied late but was shutdown.

MWSU opened the scoring in the top of the first after a sacrifice fly by Gabi Carter scored Lauren Huston, who had drawn a walk to lead off the game.

USF responded with an offensive explosion in the bottom of the first in which they scored five runs on four hits while MWSU committed one error as the Cougars took a 5-1 lead. Swift led off the game with a single and scored along with Sydney Nieveen, who reached on a fielding error earlier in the inning, after junior Ashley Meyer laced a two-run single. Junior infielder Lindsey Mossman also had a two-run single in the inning that scored Meyer and Emma Miller. Emmie Uitts's RBI groundout plated Hoshaw.

USF added to their lead with a four-run third inning on three hits, while MWSU committed two errors to help USF build a 9-1 lead.

Miller, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored an unearned run on an error by MWSU. Francesca Mickelson's RBI single plated Uitts, who had reached on a fielder's choice. After Mickelson stole second, she scored along with Mossman on Swift's RBI single.

MWSU began to creep back into the game by scoring two runs in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run home run by Brea Blanton. They added another run in the fifth to draw within 9-4. 

In the seventh, the Griffins scored four runs on five hits off Van Der Zwaag. USF's starter, Hoshaw re-entered the game and was able to end the rally.
 
Game 2: Missouri Western State 6, Sioux Falls 2
In the second game, USF jumped to a 2-0 lead but MWSU answered by scoring the final six runs of the game to earn the win and split of the doubleheader. USF starter Courtney Mathews fell to 3-1 as she allowed 10 hits on six runs in six innings. Mathews had two strikeouts but didn't walk a hitter.

Kaili Hinds of MWSU threw a complete game as she allowed just five hits and two runs with six strikeouts.

USF's offense was led by Uitts who had a two-run double in the first inning. Uitt's hit scored Meyer and Cassie Van Beek, who both had base hits earlier in the inning.     

MWSU tied the game in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs on two hits. They broke the tie with three runs in the fifth inning and added an insurance run in the sixth inning.  

USF Softball will resume action tomorrow as they face Missouri Southern State (3-4) in a doubleheader with the first game beginning at 2 p.m., and game two at 4 p.m.