St. Joseph, Mo. - Missouri Southern Softball (5-17) split their second pair of games at the Apple Market Classic on Saturday afternoon defeating NSIC school Minnesota State-Mankato 2-1 and falling 3-0 to MIAA rival Washburn.

Game One

The Lions pressured MSU early as Michala Wood got on base with an infield single and stole second before Kathryn Goins-Osburn earned a two out walk, but both Wood and Goins-Osburn we left on base as Brooke Swadley hit a long fly ball that was caught by the MSU center fielder for the third out. Mankato would score first as the Mavericks scored on a Southern error in the fifth inning.

The Lions answered back in the top of the sixth when Sydney Blue drew a lead off walk. Myranda Stewart, pinch hitting for Abi Corbett, drew a full count walk after Minnesota State Mankato switched pitcher in the middle of her plate appearance. Wood would get on due to a fielder's choice that moved Blue to third. Blue scored on the next at bat as Goins-Osburn belted a single to right field. Wood would then score on the next at bat as Swadley drove a two out single to deep right center.

MSU got a one out single up the middle in the home half of the sixth but Ashley Lutz worked out of the jam getting a fielder's choice and a pop out to end the Mavericks threat.

Kali' Hodson got the start in the circle for the Lions going four and a third innings allowing the lone run, unearned, on two hits with three strike outs. Lutz (4-7) got the win with two and two thirds innings allowing no runs on one hit.

Game Two

The second game of the day started out as a pitcher's duel between the Lions and Washburn as both teams went three up and three down to start the game. The Lions got runners on in the second as Goins-Osburn drew the lead off walk and Swadley laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Goins-Osburn to second. Dru Coleman got the one out walk but was forced out on Lindsey Gorham's fielder's choice and Hodson stuck out looking to end the second.

Washburn struck for three runs in the third on three hits including a two run home run by Thimmesch.

Sarah Williams (0-1) got the start on the mound allowing three runs, all earned, on four hits in two and two thirds innings of work. Shelby Mitchell came in relief and held the Ichabods to just one hit in three and a third innings with one stirke out.

On The Day

Goins-Osburn once again led the offensive attack for Southern as she went 1-for-3 (.333) with a RBI and three walks. Swadley finished the day 1-for-4 (.250) with a RBI and two sacrifice bunts. Hodson, Lutz, and Mitchell all combined for a 0.00 ERA allowing just four hits with four strike outs and one unearned run.

Up Next

The Lions will play Upper Iowa tomorrow at 11am and Augustana (S.D.) at 3pm in the final day of the MWSU Apple Market Classic. Live stats for those games can be found at mssulions.com