Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern softball team fell to the Rogers State Hillcats by a score of 8-1 in game one and then one run short in a 2-1 loss in game two to wrap up the double-header inside the Diamond Sports Complex Wednesday evening.
 
Game 1
 Rogers State (15-4) scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the second to take an early 2-0 in the
 
Right fielder Abi Corbett drilled a shot to left field and ended up on third base, while knocking in a run to bring Missouri Southern (4-11) within one in the fifth.
 
The Hillcats went scoreless in the bottom of the fifth, but then rattled off a six-run sixth after the first seven runners reached base to finish the game on top 8-1.
 
Corbett added a single earlier in the game, completing a 2-for-3 stand in the lead off position.
Lexi Ferrari, Emilee Meyer, and Ashley Caldarella each provided a hit while Caldarella reached on a double and eventually scored on Corbett's triple. 
 
Game 2
 It was pitching duel from the start as both pitchers held the others lineup scoreless through two innings of play.
 
Then the shutout was broken as the  Lions scored first after Shelby Friend put the ball in play towards third base to allow Corbett to sprint home after the fielder mishandled the grounder.
 
The Hillcats responded in the bottom half of the third with a home run to tie it up at one apiece. They would add on after a single to right field drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth. The Lions had the tying run on base, but would fall short by one run (2-1).
 
Freshman Abby Atkin limited the RSU offense to only two runs scored on four hits, while striking out a season-high seven batters in sixth innings pitched.
 
Next Up
The Lions finally return to Joplin to host the Teri Mathis-Zenner Tournament (March 3-4) inside the Gene Bassman Softball Complex of the Joplin Parks and Recreation Department where they begin their four-game weekend spurt with a game-one rematch against Rockhurst University this Saturday at 2:00 p.m.