Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern softball team played the No. 1 Central Oklahoma Bronchos tough through both games, but fell to the Bronchos 6-0 in game one and 10-4 in game two Friday afternoon inside Pat Lipira Softball Complex.
 
Game One
The Lions (19-23, 10-14 MIAA) held the Bronchos scoreless through three until the fourth where UCO (40-4, 22-2 MIAA) scored two runs on a groundout followed by a single down the right field line to lead 2-0 after four. They added on four more runs in the seventh towards 6-0 victory.
 
Senior pitcher Taurean Guzman went six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while Elizabeth Windsor, Josie Tofpi, and Lexi Ferrari each added a hit in the loss.  
 
Game Two
After the Bronchos got on the board in the top of the first inning, the Lions responded in the bottom half of the inning with a RBI-single by Ferrari to send home Makaila Leonhart from third base to end tied at 1-1 entering the second.
 
UCO came back with four runs in the top of the second and one in the third to take a five-run advantage (6-1).
 
Southern tacked on two runs in the bottom of the fourth after Ashley Caldarella singled in one run while another scored on an error by the right fielder on the same play. They added another
run in the fourth to get within two (6-4) after five. The Bronchos registered four more runs in the sixth and went on to take game two 10-4 to complete the day.
 
Emily Harris, Erika Lutgen, Caldarella, and Ferrari each had two hits to lead the team and combined for all four RBIs in the loss.
 
On Deck
Softball plays Northeastern State tomorrow at noon to close out the 2019 regular season as part of Senior Day where the 2019 class of four players will be recognized at the conclusion game number two.