3/3/25 Fulton, MO – The Westminster College softball team picked up two wins against Monmouth College in a doubleheader at Rock Bridge High School on Sunday. The Blue Jays took game one 4-2 behind timely hitting and strong pitching before closing out the day with a 4-3 victory in game two. The wins improve Westminster's record as they look ahead to their home opener against Simpson College on Saturday, March 8. 

Game One: Westminster 4, Monmouth 2 

Westminster capitalized on a big fourth inning to take control of the game. After the Blue Jays loaded the bases, Taylor Engelmeyer worked a walk to bring in the first run of the game. Moments later, Morgan Rusley delivered a clutch two-run double to extend the lead to 3-0. In the fifth, Raigan McKee added an RBI double to push the lead to 4-2. 

Monmouth answered with two runs in the top of the fifth, but Westminster's pitching held firm. Madison Plybon (1-0) earned the win with five solid innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three. Payton Dudenhoeffer came in for the final two innings, securing her first save of the season while allowing just two hits and striking out two. 

Game Two: Westminster 4, Monmouth 3 

The game featured another strong pitching performance, this time from Paige Cruzan, who went the distance in a complete-game effort. Cruzan (1-0) allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out four to secure the victory. 

Westminster's offense struck first in the third inning when Ellie Bedsworth doubled to drive in the game's opening run. The Blue Jays added two more in the fifth after an error and a Rusley RBI single. Cruzan helped her own cause in the seventh, drawing a walk before coming around to score the decisive fourth run on McKee's single. 

With the sweep, Westminster builds momentum heading into their home opener against Simpson College on Saturday, March 8. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.