Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern softball team split a double-header with visiting Missouri S&T today, taking out the Lady Miners in five innings in game one, 8-0, but falling in the nightcap, 2-0. 

Southern (7-15-1) scored often and early in game one taking a 3-0 lead after the second inning. Angie Turner drew a lead-off walk, and moved to third when Megan Roark singled through the right side. Roark moved up on the throw. Turner scored when Krista Bomak reached on an error by the first baseman. After two outs, Natalie Nelson then singled to center scoring both Roark and Bomak. 

The Lions added two more in the third on two unearned runs, and added a single run in the fourth on an RBI single from Angie Turner that scored Breanna Volkmann. Southern scored its final two runs in the fifth when Volkmann singled up the middle to score Nelson and Bad scored when Dawn Grass' grounder to the shortstop went through her legs, bringing into play the mercy rule. 

Volkmann was 3-4 in the game with two runs and an RBI, while Roark went 2-2 with a run scored. Bomak drove in two and scored once, while Nelson had a hit, two RBIs and a run scored. 

Tiffany Bennett started for the Lions and went the distance, allowing just one hit, while striking out two and walking none. 

The Lions had a hard time scoring any runs in game two, as the Lady Miner's pitcher Tayler Keal held Southern scoreless and allowed just five hits. 

Southern didn't lack for chances as the Lions left 11 runners on base, including the bases loaded twice. 

Volkmann and Bax had two hits each for Southern with Jessica Brooks picking up the other.

Whitney Clute started and went six and a third innings, scattering seven hits and allowing just one earned run. Kelli Bax threw the final two thirds retiring both batters she faced. 

The Lions will be back in action this weekend when Southern travels to Warrensburg to participate in the first of two MIAA crossovers scheduled this season.