BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Griffon Softball split a pair of non-conference games to begin the 2020 season at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic.Missouri Western got a walk-off single from Taylor Hoelscher in the first game of the day to cap a rally and defeat Southwest Baptist (0-5). The Griffons rallied again in game two to take a lead over Harding (6-3, but the Bisons had a comeback left in them to give the Griffs a 5-4 loss.GAME 1MWSU 3, Southwest Baptist 2Hoelscher drove in Maddie Swanson with one out in the bottom of the seventh on a single to center to give Missouri Western a win in the season opener. With the game tied at two, Emma Hoffart led off the seventh with a ground out to first. Kelly Uthe then doubled and Rachel Stewart put Uthe on third with a single to center before Hoelscher provided the game winner.SBU built a 2-0 lead with a run in the first and another in the second. Lauren Houston tied it in the fifth with a sacrifice fly that drove in Hoelscher and Stewart. Uthe picked up the win in her first game as a Griff, going the distance and striking out six and surrendering one earned run on seven hits. Uthe added a pair of hits at the plate. Hoelscher was 3 for 4 with the game-winning RBI and a double. Stewart had a pair of hits as well.GAME 2Harding 5, MWSU 4Harding scored two in the top of the sixth to come from behind and take down the Griffons in game two of the day for Missouri Western.The Griffons were down 3-1 on a double and a pair of homers after four and a half innings. Emma Hoffart tied it in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run homer, the first of the season for MWSU. Uthe represented the tying run in the bottom of the sixth after a one-out, pinch-hit walk, but she didn't get didn't leave first and the Griffs were retired on two strikeouts in the inning. In the seventh, Stewart got on with a two-out walk, but Hoelscher couldn't provide the dramatics again, grounding out to end the game.UP NEXTThe Griffons play two more in Bentonville on Sunday, taking on Quincy at 2 p.m. and Arkansas-Monticello at 4 p.m.--- MWSU Athletics ---

MWSU softball opens season 1-1 in Bentonville