Missouri Southern Softball (1-5) dropped a pair of games Friday in Bentonville, Arkansas in day one of the Arkansas-Monticello 8 State Classic 6-4 to Illinois-Springfield and 8-0 to Henderson State in five innings.

Game One

In game one Illinois-Springfield and the Lions exchanged runs in the opening frame as Alana Hester walked to start the home half and stole second. Hester advanced to third on a ground out by Brooke Swadley and then scored on a wild pitch.

The PrairieStars then tacked on three runs in the third on a three run homer by Brittany Miller and two in the fourth before Southern would be able to score again. In the bottom half of the fourth Michala Wood led off with a single to right field and advanced to second on a ground out by Jessica Killer. Dru Coleman walked to put runners on first and second and Sarah Williams would drive in Wood for the Lions' second run of the game.

Shelby Mitchell, who came in the fourth inning, shut down the UIS offense for the next three innings as the Lions tried to claw their way back into the game. The bottom of the seventh saw Southern make a run at the PrairieStars as Kathryn Goins-Osburn led the inning off with a hit by pitch. Wood then homered to center field to make the score 6-4. Lindsey Gorham came in with a pinch hit double to left center and Killer, running for Gorham, advanced to third on a ground out by Williams. Abi Corbett bunted her way on base and stole second to give the Lions runners at second and third with two outs and down 6-4. Alana Hester would ground out to the third baseman to end the game.

Ashley Lutz (1-3) suffered the loss going three innings allowing all six runs, all earned, on five hits with four strike outs. Mitchell pitched four innings allowed no runs and no hits while striking out two.

Game Two

In a rematch from the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational the Henderson State Reddies again came out with the win over Southern, 8-0. The Lions managed just two hits off Reddies hurler, Ashlyn White. Coleman collected the initial hit for Southern, a single up the middle, and advanced to second on a passed ball in the second inning. Hester would come through in the third as she out ran a bunt and stole second for the second runner in scoring position in game two.

Kali' Hodson (0-2) got the start in the circle as she went three and one third innings allowing five runs, one earned, on five hits with three strikeouts. Mitchell pitched one inning in relief allowing three runs, all earned, on four hits.

On The Day

Wood was the leader offensively for Southern as she went 4-for-6 (.667) at the plate with two RBI and one homerun and a slugging percentage of 1.167. Corbett finished the day 3-for-5 (.600) with a stole base.