KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - The Truman Softball team opened their 2022 home season with a split with former conference foe Northwest Missouri State. The Bulldogs came from behind to take the opener 12-6 but lost in the nightcap 16-1. Truman will face more former MIAA opponents this weekend in Topeka, Kansas facing Fort Hays State and Washburn.

Truman State 12, Northwest Missouri 6

The Bulldogs fell behind 4-0 but pounded their way back for a 12-6 win in the opener.

Truman had 17 hits with three each coming from Emma Walbert and McKenzie West while Maria McGonegle, Brieanna Klein and Lauren Bowman each had two.

The Bearcats took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single in the second inning and added three in the third with the biggest hit coming off the bat of Olivia Daughery and a two-run home run.

Truman came storming back in the fourth. West doubled with one out and Lauren Bowman followed with a single. Shelby Webster painted one off the line in right to bring tone in. Kayla Quanstrum doubled to make it 4-3. With two outs, Callie Unrein hit a dribbler down the third base line but the errant throw allowed Quanstrum to cross the plate to tie the game.

Northwest grabbed the lead right back with a solo home run in the fifth.

McGonegle singled to start the fifth and went to third on a double by West. With two outs, Lauren Stade was clutch with a shot to left center to bring both runners in and a 6-5 lead. 

The Bearcats drew even in the top of the sixth with a sacrifice fly to right filed off the bat of Lauren Gray.

The Bulldogs exploded in their half of the inning. Emma Walbert hit an infield single to start things off and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Callie Unrein. Cameryn Patterson was hit by a pitch and McGonegle loaded the bases with a single through the left side.

Klein gave Truman the lead back with a rip to left field and West blasted the team's first home run of the season, a grand slam over center field fence to make it 11-6. Walbert would single again to score Emily Eberwine.

Annabel Zimmer shut down Northwest 1-2-3 in the seventh to pick up the win in relief. 

The school record for hits in a game is 22 set in 2017 against Missouri S&T.

Northwest Missouri 16, Truman State 1

The Bearcats dusted themselves off and then put the early hammer down in a 16-1 split. A three-run homer in the first inning quickly made things 4-0 in favor of Northwest.

They would add six more in the second with Daugherty knocking a three-run homer. 

For the game, Northwest hit four roundtrippers and registered 16 hits in the win. 

Truman's lone tally came on an RBI single from Shelby Webster that scored West in the fourth.