Wichita, Kan – The Missouri Southern softball program split the opening MIAA doubleheader against Newman tonight at the Newman Softball Field. Game one the Lions fell 7-5, but Southern took the nightcap 9-2.

Southern (4-2, 1-1 MIAA) lost game one 7-5 as Newman (3-10, 1-1 MIAA) scored a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings to seal the win. For the Lions, Leighton Withers got the scoring started in the first inning with an RBI single up the middle before Ashlynn Williams tripled home Withers springing the Lions ahead 2-0 in the first inning.The Jets responded with two runs in the second and three in the third to claim the lead after three innings.

Kara Amos got her first home run of the season driving in Williams in the fourth before the Lions got a run in the fifth to tie it up. The Jets responded with a run in the fifth and sixth inning to take game one.  

Amos threw in relief pitching 4.1 innings and struck out four batters. 

In game two the Lions responded with a 9-2 win as Bailey Lacy picked up her first win of the season finishing with seven strikeouts in seven innings of work.  

Grace Parrott hit her first home run of the season, a three-run shot over the left-center fence in the first inning as the Lions never trailed in the game. Withers hit a triple that walked in Tofpi in the third inning before the Lions scored two in the fourth and one in the fifth inning off errors by the Jets. Williams increased the lead to 8-2 with an RBI double scoring Tofpi, before Amos hit her second home run of the night in the seventh to cap off the scoring.  

Next up for Southern is the Emporia State 5-State Classic tomorrow starting with Quincy at 12:30 pm and Concordia – St. Paul at 3 pm.