Joplin, Mo. -- The Northwest Missouri Bearcats scored six runs in the sixth to come from behind and defeat the Missouri Southern softball team, 9-6 today in the final game at the Zenner Memorial Classic. The Lions' last game vs. Northeastern State was not played. 

The Lions (4-14) had a 6-3 lead going into the sixth inning before the Bearcats (8-9) exploded for six runs in the inning to take the game. 

Southern started the scoring in the first when Megan Roark singled home Jessica Brooks for the game's first run. After Northwest scored a pair in the third, the Lions answered back with another run to tie it in the bottom of the inning when Lauren Hasty had a sacrifice fly score Kiley Siebenaler. 

After a lone run scored by the Bearcats in the fourth, the Lions exploded for four runs in their half of the inning. Natalie Nelson singled to start the inning, and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Brooks. After Kelli Bax added a bunt single, she moved to second when she noticed the base was not covered. With runners at second and third, the Bearcats changed pitchers and Dawn Grass promptly greeted the new hurler with a two run double to right center. 

An RBI single from Krista Bomak later in the inning scored Ashley Harris who had been running for Grass and Hasty drove in Whitney Clute for the Lions' fourth run. 

Southern was led offensively by 3-4 performances from both Roark and Bomak with both driving in a run each. Clute went 2-3 with a run scored, while Hasty and Grass both drove in two. 

Clute started and went five innings, while Tiffany Bennett and Bax both pitched an inning in relief.

The Lions will be back in action on Tuesday, March 9 when Southern travels to Pittsburg State for a pair of non-conference games.