There were peaks and valleys for the Wayne State softball team during their trip to the Missouri Western Invitational.

The team finished the trip 3-3 and improved their season record to 14-8.

“We played four very good games and had two games where our defense let us down,” coach Krista Wood said. “Our team did a good job of fighting back in games we were behind in.”

The Wildcats opened the tournament with a thrilling, extra-inning victory over Central Missouri, 11-10.

The ‘Cats rallied from four-run deficits in the fourth and the eighth innings to earn the win on Friday.

Megan Hagemann notched the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth with a two-run single scoring Vicki Nielsen and Lexie Loos.

The Wildcats exploded offensively with 16 hits, led by Loos’ perfect five for five at the plate.

The hero of the contest, Hagemann, finished two for five with a double, four RBI and two runs scored.

Kelcie Bormann earned the victory after throwing two innings of relief for starter Sara Scheffert.

A pair of Wildcat home runs propelled WSC to a victory over Northwest Missouri State, 6-2.

Nielsen had a game-tying solo homer in the fifth inning and Kaiti Williams sealed the victory with a three-run bomb in the seventh.

To go along with homers by Nielsen and Williams, Bormann went two for three at the plate to lead the Wildcats offensively.

Bormann was the winning pitcher after firing a complete game, allowing just two runs on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

WSC fell to Missouri Western on Saturday, 4-3. Two Wildcat errors led to three unearned runs dooming the ‘Cats.

Hagemann was two for three with a double and Jordan King tripled and had two RBI to lead the ‘Cats at the plate.

Scheffert suffered the hard-luck pitching loss.

She threw a complete game, allowing four runs (one earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

The Wildcats blew a 7-0 lead to Washburn in their second game on Saturday.

WSC eventually fell 9-7.

The offense for the ‘Cats was led by King, who had a double with two RBI. Twins Melanie (two for two and two RBI) and Monique Alyea (two RBI) also produced at the plate.

Scheffert was tagged with the loss in relief, working the final 1 1/3 innings.

She allowed two runs on four hits with one strikeout.

Starter Bormann was charged with 7 runs (4 earned) on 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk.

WSC held Missouri Southern to three hits in a victory on Sunday, 8-2.

Three Wildcat pitchers combined to hold the Lions in check.

Sam O’Brien finished three for three with two RBI and two runs scored and Kylee Simpson was two for three with a run scored to lead the ‘Cats offensively.

Bormann (8-1) was the winning pitcher, working the first 4 2/3 innings. Scheffert pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief and Sarah Macias pitched the final inning and retired all three batters.

The 12th-ranked Emporia State Hornets ended the Wildcats weekend with a 4-1 loss.

King led the ‘Cats offense going 2 for 4 at the plate with 1 run scored. Scheffert suffered the loss, working all seven innings. She gave up 4 runs on 15 hits and struck out 6 batters without issuing a walk.

“We need to play more consistent on offense, hit consistently at the plate, and pitch more consistently on the mound,” Wood said regarding what the Wildcats looked to improve on.

WSC returns to action today with a home doubleheader against Augustana. The games are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Pete Chapman Baseball/Softball Complex.

WSC will also have a pair of doubleheaders at home over the weekend. The first set of games will be Saturday against Northern State at noon and 2 p.m. The second set of games will be Sunday against MSU Moorhead at noon and 2 p.m.

Box Scores

R H E

UNK….. 011 000 0 – 2 4 0
WSC….. 000 006 X – 6 6 0

UNK……001 002 0 – 3 6 0
WSC….. 202 000 X – 4 6 0

Cent. Miss… 004 000 141 – 10 15 3
WSC………… 000 140 042 – 11 16 1

WSC………… 000 111 3 – 6 9 0
Northwest…. 200 000 0 – 2 6 3

WSC………… 000 030 0 – 3 7 2
Miss. West… 310 000 X – 4 7 0

WSC………… 205 000 0 – 7 8 3
Washburn….. 003 132 X- 9 15 1

WSC………… 002 030 3 – 8 9 1
Miss. South.. 000 200 0 – 2 3 0

Emporia St… 100 020 1 – 4 15 1
WSC…………. 000 010 0 – 1 5 1