February 19, 2023
TOPEKA – The Cougar softball team moved up to Topeka, Kansas to finish the weekend against Missouri – St. Louis and Northwest Missouri State.
GAME 1 – MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
Sioux Falls struck first against the Tritons, but with a two-run homerun in the first and second by UMSL the Tritons quickly jumped out to a 4-1 lead.
Allie McCabe got the Cougars going in the third with a lead-off single to right field. Rylie Jones followed suit before Kylie Madrid brought McCabe in on a line drive up the middle.
USF struggled at the plate going three up, three down in the fourth and fifth innings before picking up their third and final run in the sixth. Madrid found herself on first while Jayden Haley advanced her to third on a line drive to right field. Taryn Wagner stepped into the box and produced an RBI single to center field before the Cougars ended the inning with bases left loaded.
The Cougars out hit the Tritons 7-6 but weren't able to overcome an early deficit ultimately falling 5-3.
GAME 2 – NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE
USF found themselves down early as the Bearcats jumped out to a 4-0 lead with runs in the first and third innings.
Kait Van Der Zwaag got the bats moving with a single to center field before Madrid scored her with a double to the right field fence. Kennedy Thomas scored Madrid on a sac fly to right field to bring the Cougars within two at the top of the fourth.
Northwest Missouri State had another big three run inning in the bottom of the fourth to go up 7-2 before the Cougars added another two runs of their own.
With two outs in the fifth, Lexie Swift doubled to left center ultimately scoring off a double by Van Der Zwaag. Madrid once again added a double of her own to bring the Coo within three.
Following a powerful fifth inning by the Bearcats, Sioux Falls ended the weekend with a 4-12 loss.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will be back in action next weekend as they return to Topeka for the Washburn Invitational to take on Nebraska-Kearney, Missouri-St. Louis, Central Missouri, Washburn, Newman and Forth Hays State.
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