Missouri Western 3, WU 1 | WU 4, Northwest Missouri 0 | Season Stats
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – A walk-off grand slam by Hilary Weatherford kept the Washburn Lady Blues' season alive in an elimination game against Northwest Missouri in the MIAA Tournament. Washburn will take on Fort Hays State at 11 a.m. on Saturday in another elimination game at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex.
In the bottom of the eighth inning and with two outs on an 0-2 pitch, Weatherford deposited the Morgan Brunmeier (10-8) pitch over the left field fence sending Washburn to a 4-0 win to continue the Washburn (19-29) season. The home run was Weatherford's fourth of the season.
In the eighth inning, Katie Schroeder reached base with a single to center and Alex Zordel followed it up with a single to center of her own. With one out, Britny Cushing's fly ball to right field was dropped by the Bearcat defender moving Schroder to third and Lindsey Himpel to second after pinch running for Zordel leading to Weatherford's game-ending heroics. Weatherford received a second chance in her at bat after a foul pop up was dropped by the Northwest Missouri catcher.
Danielle Fox (9-15) tossed the four-hit shutout who struck out a career-high 13 Northwest Missouri (25-20) batters in the game.
Cushing finished with two hits in the game leading a Washburn offense which out hit the Bearcats 7 to 4.
In Washburn's opening game with Missouri Western, Washburn opened the game with back-to-back singles by Kacy Covert and Katie Schroeder but could not move them over as the MIAA Freshman of the Year Jackie Bishop struck out the side en route to nine strikeouts on the day heading to the 3-1 win.
The Griffons scored a solo run in the second inning on an RBI single by Leah Steele scoring Adelaide Quaney. The Griffons added an unearned run in the bottom of the third on a wild pitch and wrapped up their scoring on a home run to left by Brittany Douglas.
Washburn broke up the scoreless game in the top of the seventh when Shelby Erickson hit her first collegiate home run. Erickson had two of Washburn's five hits.
Kelsie Novotny (10-13) took the loss giving up two earned runs striking out five. Bishop (24-3) picked up the win for Missouri Western.
Hilary Weatherford's walk off grand slam (courtesy of the MIAA)
