LIBERTY, Mo. - The William Jewell softball team snapped a nine game skid on Wednesday afternoon with some late inning heroics to earn a split with Northwest Missouri State in non-conference action. The Cardinals took game two 5-3 after dropping the opener 7-3 to improve to 5-21 overall. 

Game 1 (Northwest Mo. St. 7, Jewell 3)
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Northwest Missouri State took advantage of early free passes from the Cardinals, scoring four runs on three hits and three walks. 
• The Cardinals cut the lead in half in the fourth with two runs. Sophia Lopez doubled and came around to score on an RBI single from Abby Vandiver. Vandiver then scored herself on on a single up the middle off the bat of Kenzie Stahl. 
• The Bearcats added a run in the top of the fifth before the Cardinals got it back on an RBI single through the left side by Lopez to score Ella Hoffman, who had doubled. 
• Northwest Missouri added two runs on two hits in the seventh to take the opener. 

KEY STATS

• The Cardinals picked up nine hits, led by two from Lopez and Payton Totzke. 
• Katie Heckman (0-1) took the loss in her first career start, allowing four earned runs. 
• Olivia Wood also worked seven innings in relief, allowing two earned on eight hits. 

Game 2 (Jewell 5, Northwest Mo. St. 3)
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cardinals got on the board first in game two as Addie Bell walked followed by a single from Mya Zavala and another walk to Sydney Cure to load the bases for Stahl who put a sac fly into right field. 
• In the top of the fourth, Lauren Gray pulled a solo home run just inside the left field foul pole to tie the game. 
• After Jewell threw out a runner at home, the Bearcats took the lead with two runs on four hits in the top of the fourth. 
• The Cardinals got one back on an RBI fielder's choice from Sabrina Olmo to make it 3-2. 
• Jewell put together their final rally in the bottom of the sixth as Lopez and Amanda Chung walked to put two on for Zavala who sent a double off the center field wall to score Kelli McCallister and tie the game. Cure laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to score Sheyenne Kelch and put Jewell in front before Totzke added an insurance run with a single to center. 

KEY STATS

• Olmo and Zavala led the Cardinals with two hits apiece with the latter picking up a double. 
• Sammie Welt (2-6) earned the win in relief, striking out four with only one baserunner allowed over the final two innings.

UP NEXT
Jewell returns to Great Lakes Valley Conference action this weekend with trips to McKendree and Maryville.