Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern softball team outscored the Wayne State College Wildcats, 7-1, for a non-conference sweep to open play at home inside Pat Lipira Softball Complex Sunday afternoon.
 
Game One
The Lions (3-4) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on a single by Erika Lutgen in the first and then Emilee Meyer getting hit by a pitch in the second. That was followed up with a Kaycee Hodgson pitch-hit grand slam to deep left-center field in the third and bust the game wide open toward a 6-1 victory.
 
Pitchers Abby Atkin and Mikaela Cox limited the Wildcats (1-5) to one run on six hits while striking out six batters in victory.
 
Lutgen recorded a 2-for-4 stand at the plate to lead the team with a couple of line outs to second base and an RBI.
 
Game Two
In following up to a five-run advantage, the Lions only needed one run to close out game two since senior pitcher Taurean Guzman was asserting her dominance in the circle.
 
Guzman allowed four hits in the seven innings of play while striking out two for her first win of the season in the shape of a complete game. All three pitchers combined for one walk (two hit batters) in 14 innings pitched.
 
Freshman Sidnie Hurst grounded out to second base that was deep enough to score Makaila Leonhart from third for the lone run in the game.
 
Next Up
Missouri Southern gets right back it tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 pm to face another member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in Sioux Falls (S.D.) for a doubleheader with the second game also at 4:00 pm.