Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern Lions (12-19, 4-2 MIAA) dropped a pair to the visiting Pittsburg State Gorillas (17-16, 6-0 MIAA) 7-1 and 7-2 Wednesday evening at Lea Kungle Field at the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex.
Game One
The Gorillas struck for with three runs in the first two innings before Southern would cut the lead to one in the bottom of the third as sophomore Brooklyn Farrell, who reached on an error, scored on a triple down the right field line by fellow sophomore Haley Pypes.
Farrell and senior Lydia Niemegeers both went 2-for-3 at the dish in the opener to lead the Lions offense.
Pypes (7-3) got the start for the Lions and suffered the loss as she went 3 2/3 innings giving up three runs, all earned, on four hits and struck out three. Junior Kayce Moore came in relief and pitched 2 1/3 innings allowing just one hit before the Gorillas scored four in the top of the seventh inning. Moore would go 3 1/3 innings overall allowing four runs, all earned, on six hits with three strike outs.
Game Two
Pittsburg State once got out of the gate first in the night cap as they scored two runs in the first inning before the Lions would score their first run in the home half of the second when freshman Brooke Swadley scored on a single to left center by senior Brianna Fulkerson. After a scoreless third inning the Gorillas would add a run in each of the next three innings while Southern would add one in the bottom of the fourth as Farrell would score on a throwing error by the PSU pitcher trying to double off senior Breanna Volkmann off a line drive by Pypes.
Volkmann, Fulkerson, and sophomore Shelby Romines all went 2-for-4 at the dish for Southern in the night cap.
Junior Hannah Cooke got the start for the Lions going 5 1/3 innings giving up five runs, all earned, on eight hits with five strikeouts. Moore once again appeared in relief this time going 1 2/3 innings allowing two runs, both unearned, on three hits.
On The Day
Volkmann, Fulkerson, and Romines would lead the way for the Lions at the plate all going 3-for-7 while Fulkerson and Pypes drove in a run each.
Pittsburg State picks up the Sonic Trophy Series point in softball to pull within one of the Lions at 5-4, with five points left up for grabs.
Next Up
The Lions will head to St. Charles, Missouri on Saturday to take on future MIAA foe Lindenwood University at 3pm and then head to the state capital to tackle the Lincoln Blue Tigers on Sunday at 2pm.
