Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern softball
team came from behind in game two and earned a split with visiting
Pittsburg State tonight, falling to the Gorillas, 3-0 in the
opener, but winning 3-2 in game two.
Southern (12-24-1, 3-5 MIAA) and Pitt (15-16-1, 2-6 MIAA) split
the two games in the Sonic Trophy Series so the point will be
awarded to the program that finishes higher in the MIAA regular
season standings.
Game one was a pitchers dual as both hurlers held the other team
scoreless for four innings before the Gorillas scored a run in
their half of the fifth when Hayley Deaton grounded out to score
Kresley Ketchum. Pitt scored two more in the top of the seventh to
put the game away.
The Lions left four on base and Megan Roark, Krista Bomak,
Breanna Volkmann and Natalie Nelson had a hit each. Whitney Clute
went the distance in the opener, scattering seven hits and allowing
three runs, while striking out two and walking none.
Pitt scored a run in the first in game two, before the Lions
tied it up in the third when Brooke Hurley doubled home Kelli Bax.
Pitt scored another run in the fifth when Jessica Jones singled
home Amanda DeCastro.
The Lions answered right back in their half of the fifth and
scored two runs. With two outs, Bax singled through the right side
and Hurley walked behind her. Angie Turner then came up and tripled
down the right field line to score both runners.
Tiffany Bennett started the game and threw five and two thirds
of an inning, allowing just two earned runs, while striking out two
to earn the win. Bax came in and pitched the final inning and a
third, allowing just one hit to get her first save of the
season.
Bax was 2-3 with a pair of runs scored, while Krista Bomak had a
pair of hits, as well. Hurley and Turner had a hit each, while
Hurley drove in one and scored once and Turner drove in two big
runs. Roark had the Lions other hit.
Southern will be back in action this weekend as the Lions head
on the road to take on Emporia State and Washburn.
