St. Joseph, Mo. - The Missouri Southern softball program split day one of the Hy-Vee Classic hosted by Missouri Western today.
 

Southern (7-7, 1-3 MIAA) won against Bemidji State (2-9) 11-2 in a run-ruled six innings to start the Tournament for the Lions. 
 

Josie Tofpi got the Lions on the board first with a single to score Yazmin Vargas, while Ashlynn Williams capped off the first inning with a double to score Tofpi as the Lions finished the inning with a 2-1 lead. 
 

Williams picked up another RBI scoring Makila Leonhart in the third inning. Southern came away with three runs in the fourth as a Lynnlee Parrott triple scored Kristen Wade, before Parrott scored herself on a sacrifice bunt by Sidnie Hurst. Vargas singled later in the inning before stealing second and third base, scoring on an error by the catcher as the Lions led 6-2 after the fourth inning.
 

Parrott doubled scoring Tori Frazier in the fifth inning before the Lions scored three in the sixth to wrap up the game. Tofpi singled home Leonhart, Leighton Withers singled Tofpi and Lynnlee Parrott had a single that scored Grace Parrott and Withers.
 

L. Parrott went 3-of-4 with four RBIs, Tofpi was 3-of-4 with two RBIs scoring twice herself, Williams went 2-of-2 for two RBIs. Amos started in the circle going 3.2 innings striking out three, Abby Atkin picked up her third win of the season pitching 1.1 innings of relief striking out two Beavers.
 

Game two saw the Lions square off against the Mavericks from Minnesota State - Mankato (9-2), falling 4-0. MSU jumped out to a four-run first inning as it turned out to be all the Mavericks needed. Southern collected four hits in the game limiting the Mavericks to one person on the base paths after the first inning.
 

Kara Amos pitched six innings in relief striking out three Mavs. 
 

Next up for the Lions in day two of the Hy-Vee Classic hosted by Missouri Western is Upper Iowa at 10 am before playing #14 Winona State at 12 pm.