By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
TOPEKA - Sam Pederson struck out eight batters in a complete game shutout, Missouri Western belted four single shot home runs and the Griffon softball team fended off elimination once again in the MIAA tournament Friday, blanking Central Missouri 9-0 at the Envista Softball Complex.
The Griffons' first home run came in the top of the second inning when Chloe Armstrong blasted a ball to right center to put the Griffons on the board first at 1-0.
Kalee Higdon followed in the third with a single shot of her own. Then, Armstrong struck again with another solo bomb in the fourth. Natalee Weber added yet another solo dinger for good measure in the fifth.
Missouri Western led 4-0 after the fifth. Each of their first four hits were solo shot homers.
Armstrong was the star offensively, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored on the two dingers.
Meanwhile, Pederson (18-6) was dialed in from the get-go in the circle, striking out eight and walking just one, while allowing just three hits.
The Jennies (33-21) had two hits through the first two innings, but had no answer offensively after that. The Griffon defense sat UCM down in order in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Missouri Western (37-19) added five more runs in the sixth and seventh innings combined. Rian Gere had a two-run RBI double in the sixth.
Gere and Maddie Swanson each had an RBI in the seventh as well.
Makenzie DeVine went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. The Griffons outhit UCM 9-3 and had a stellar, error-free day in the field.
Missouri Western, which has now won six of their last seven games, will play on Saturday at 1:30 against either No. 2 seed Missouri Southern or No. 5 seed Washburn.
The game will be broadcast live on St. Joseph Post. LISTEN LIVE HERE.
The Griffons will have to win twice on Saturday to reach Sunday's championship series.
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