Joplin, Mo. -- Missouri Western rallied in
extra innings twice today as the Griffons swept a double-header
from Missouri Southern by the scores of 10-8 in 10 innings in game
one and 5-4 in eight innings in game two.
The Lions (18-38-1, 7-11 MIAA) got off with a bang in game one,
scoring three runs in the first inning to go up 3-0 after one. Kelli Bax singled
to start the game and Breanna
Volkmann reached on an error by the pitcher while she tried to
sacrifice Bax to second. Both runners moved up on the error and Angie Turner
walked to load the bases. Bax scored on a fielder's choice and both
Turner and Dawn
Grass scored when Megan Roark singled
through the right side.
Western (27-24, 10-8 MIAA) answered with a run in the fourth,
before the Lions scored a run of their own in the bottom half of
the inning when Jessica Brooks
scored on a fielder's choice from Volkmann.
The Griffons scored another run to cut the Lions lead to 4-2 in
the top of the fifth, but Southern answered back with four runs in
the bottom half of the inning. RBI's from Natalie Nelson
and Volkmann, as well as a two RBI double from Bax highlighted the
inning.
That would be it, however for the Lions offense as Western
starter Jonelle Belger held Southern scoreless for the next four
innings as the Griffons scored six runs in the sixth to tie the
game and added two in the top of the tenth for the win.
Whitney
Clute started for the Lions and went five and a third, allowing
six earned runs, while Tiffany Bennet threw four and two thirds of
relief, allowing just one earned run and striking out
two.
Bax and Volkmann had three hits and two RBIs, while Bax scored
twice. Roark had a pair of hits, while Brooks and Nelson had the
Lions other two hits.
Game two saw the Lions go down 3-0 after the top of the third,
but Southern bounced back with three runs in the bottom half of the
inning all off the bat of Turner as the senior belted her seventh
home run of the year, a three run job, scoring Bax and Kim Diaz. The home
run adds to her school record of 26 for her career at
Southern.
Western scored a run in the fifth to go up 4-3, but the Lions
again tied the game, this time with an RBI double from Volkmann
down the left field line scoring Kelli Bax who had doubled to right
center the batter previous.
The game would again go to extras where the Griffons scored a
run in the top of the eighth to put the game away.
Turner went 3-3 with three RBIs and a run and added a walk.
Volkmann had two hits and an RBI, while Bax had a hit and two runs
scored.
Bennett went the distance for the Lions, throwing eight innings,
and striking out two, while walking just one.
Southern will be back in action this Saturday at 1 pm when the
Lions play host to Truman State in a double-header at Kungle
Field.
