The North Central Missouri College softball team gave up three runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to fall in the opener of a doubleheader on Thursday, with MSU-West Plains claiming an 8-7 victory. However, NCMC used a three-run shutout in the nightcap to salvage a victory, winning 3-0.
The first game was by far the most frenetic of the two contests, with NCMC taking a 4-0 lead with a four spot in the top of the 3rd, only to see the lead disappear over the next three frames, with MSU-West Plains scoring three runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning, followed by single runs in the 4th and 5th.
Down to their final three outs, the Lady Pirates moved into position to grab a dramatic potential victory, as a two-run homer by Addison Huber was part of a three-run uprising, sending NCMC to a 7-5 lead. The lead was lost in the fateful bottom of the 7th.
The West Plains offensive punch came from the top of the lineup, with leadoff hitter Lexie Gastineau and two-hole hitter Kenzie Massey each scoring twice. Pitcher Jordyn Foley was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI’s, with Kennedy Cogdill cracking three hits in three at-bats.
In the 3-0 victory, North Central scored a run to take the lead in the top of the 3rd, and added two critical insurance runs in the 5th. Foley got the start for West Plains and allowed only five hits in seven innings in taking the loss, but she was hurt with the issuance of nine base-on-balls to Lady Pirate batters.
