Springfield, Mo. – The Missouri Southern Lions offense exploded for 20 runs but split a pair of game with Drury today at Thompson Field winning 11-1 in five innings in game one before falling 10-9 in game two.
 
Game One
The Lions (9-10) struck early with four runs in the first inning in route to an 11-1 run rule win over Drury. The first inning saw Southern take advantage of a Panthers error by scoring three unearned runs highlighted by a two run home run from senior Sarah Williams. Drury (5-7) would get their lone run in the bottom of the first to make it 4-1 when Hillenburg scored on an error by the Lions' second baseman. Freshman Ashley Caldarella hit her second home run of the season to make it 5-1 Lions in the third before the Southern offense exploded for five more runs in the fourth. Freshman Kylie Wesbrooks singled up the middle to start the fifth and advanced to third on a fielding error by the Drury first baseman that allowed sophomore Abi Corbett to reach base. Wesbrooks scored on junior Sydney Fry's sacrifice fly to center to make it 6-1. The Lions loaded the bases with two outs before Williams hit home run number six on the season, this one a grand slam, to make it 10-1 Southern. The Lions tacked on one more run in the top of the fifth as Wesbrooks scored on a ground ball double play by Caldarella to make it 11-1.

Senior Ashley Lutz pitched all five innings for the complete game no hit win allowing just the one run, unearned, with three strike outs. Corbett and Caldarella went 2-for-4 from the plate and Williams finished 2-for-3 with six RBIs.

Game Two
In the night cap the two teams combined for 27 hits as Drury edged out a 10-9 win in the bottom of the seventh. Southern struck early again in the night cap as they plated four runs in the second inning freshman Angel Badalamenti started the inning off with a double to right center and scored on freshman Taurean Guzman's single to the pitcher. Corbett's single back up the middle with two outs scored both Guzman and Williams to make it 3-0. Corbett then scored following a fielding error by the Panther's third baseman that allowed Caldarella to reach safely. The Lions tacked on another run in the third when Wesbrooks single back up the box scored Badalamenti to give Southern a 5-0 lead. Two more runs in the top of the fourth, Badalamenti singled home Caldarella and Williams singled home sophomore Myranda Stewart, made it 7-0 and looked like the Lions were on pace for a second run rule victory. However, Drury had other plans as they pushed across four runs in the home half of the fourth and five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 9-7 lead. Southern started the sixth inning off with another Badalamenti double, this one to left field, and she scored on Williams single to right center. After two straight outs Williams scored on Wesbrooks single to center to tie it at 9-9 headed into the seventh. Stewart singled up the middle with one out and was stranded in the Lions half of the seventh. Drury led off the bottom of the seventh with a hit by pitch and a sacrifice bunt. Hillenburg singled to right center to score the winning run with one out.

Lutz started game two and was relieved by sophomore Kali' Hodson to start the fifth but re-entered the game in the fifth just five batters into the inning without an out being recorded. Lutz went a total of 6.1 innings allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits with five strike outs and Hodson faced five batters allowing five runs, four earned, on three hits. Badalamenti led the Lions' offense in the night cap going 4-for-5 with three runs scored and a RBI. Williams finished 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Wesbrooks and Corbett also had 2 RBIs each with Corbett picking up two stolen bases.

On The Day
Badalamenti finished the day 5-for-7 (.714) with a pair of doubles, a RBI, and four runs scored. Wesbrooks went 4-for-6 (.667) with a double and two RBIs while Williams finished 5-for-8 (.625) with eight RBIs, now leads team with 21 on the season, and two home runs and a slugging percentage of 1.375. As a team the Lions we perfect in stolen bases on the day going 7-for-7 and led by Corbett who went 4-for-4.

Up Next
The Lions will be back in action on Friday as they travel to Pittsburg State for the opening of their MIAA schedule with first pitch at Pittsburg State Softball Complex is slated for 3 p.m.