Grizzly Softball splits double header with East Central
The Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) Grizzly Softball team split a double header with East Central College in Union Friday.
The Grizzlies shut out the Falcons 9-0 in the first game but fell 9-6 in the nightcap. The Grizzlies' fall exhibition record now stands at 7-2-1.
First game
Grizzly Softball Head Coach Don Long was very pleased with his team's performance in the first game.
"Our first game was a well-played game all around. The pitching was fantastic, and the defense behind Jordyn Foley was great. Our bats came alive, and we had three home runs."
Freshman infielder Keeley Akers, Ava, led the offensive charge, going 2-3 at the plate with a single and a home run. She had one RBI and two runs scored. Freshman infielder Zoey Williams also hit a home run, knocking in two RBIs in the process.
Freshman Kennedy Cogdill, East Prairie, went 2-4 at the plate with two singles and an RBI, and freshman catcher Brydon Maddox also went 2-4 at the plate with a double and a home run and picked up two RBIs.
Foley, a freshman pitcher from Ozark, earned the win with a seven-inning shutout performance while striking out seven batters.
Nightcap
In the late game, the Grizzlies struggled on the mound and with their defense. "We gave up too many walks mixed in with some errors," Long explained. "We battled back but could never quite catch East Central."
Cogdill led the Grizzlies offensively, going 3-4 at the plate with three singles and two runs scored. Williams went 2-4 at the plate with a single and a double. She picked up an RBI and scored a run. Foley also went 2-4 at the plate with two singles and an RBI.
Freshman pitcher Brooklyn Hasler, Ozark, went 2-2 at the plate with two singles and a run scored. Freshman outfielders Jesse Latham, Gainesville, and Allisyn Vance, Reeds Spring, rounded out the Grizzlies' hitting. Each went 1-1 at the plate.
Sophomore pitcher Anabelle Hitt, Lynchburg, started the game on the mound for the Grizzlies. In two-thirds of an inning, she gave up four earned runs. Cogdill then came in for three and one-third innings. She gave up two earned runs on five hits with one strikeout. Hasler finished the game and gave up one earned run.
Sunday's games
The Grizzlies were to have played the Arkansas Chaos Sunday, Sept. 24, in West Plains, but the games were called due to wet field conditions. Team officials are trying to reschedule.
Next up
The Grizzlies will travel to Springfield Friday to face Drury University at 6 p.m., then will make the trek to Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, to face Williams Baptist University Saturday in a double header. Game times are 1 and 3 p.m.
For more information about the Grizzly Softball team, visit MSUWPGrizzlies.com or check out the team's Facebook page, Facebook.com/GrizzlySB.