Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern softball program picked up its second straight sweep beating Northwest Missouri today inside the Pat Lipira Softball Complex 4-3 and 8-2.
 
The Lions (26-13-1, 17-6-1 MIAA) got on the board in the first inning off an Ashlynn Williams bases clearing triple that scored Leighton Withers and Josie Tofpi. Northwest (16-20, 10-14 MIAA) responded in the fifth with back-to-back home runs to take the lead 3-2.
 
Southern responded in the bottom half of the inning as a Tofpi groundout scored Sidnie Hurst to tie it up. It stayed tied until Tofpi stepped into the batter's box again as she singled home Yazmin Vargas in her second straight game one walk-off this week.
 
Game one saw Tofpi go 2-of-4 with two RBIs, Williams also had 2 RBIs and picked up her fourth triple of the season. Abby Atkin started in the circle and went four innings, Kara Amos went the rest of the way picking her eighth win of the season.
 
Just like in the first game the Lions got on the board in the first inning as a Withers bunt single scored Vargas. The Bearcats got runs on the board in the third inning off a double to right field, before being out at third as the Lions relayed the throw from right field to second base to third for the out. 
 
In the fourth inning the Lions took the lead (3-2) off a Lynnlee Parrott pinch hit double to score Izzy Medrano and Withers. Kristen Wade picked up an RBI in the sixth inning on a fielder's choice, Makaila Leonhart had an RBI single that scored Adrianna Young and Withers picked up in RBI as the Lions ran away 8-2 winners.
 
In game two Withers and Leonhart had two hits and an RBI each, Lynnlee Parrott had a game-high two RBIs. Bailey Lacy pitched six innings striking out four on her way to her ninth win of the season and Abbey Gann pitched a scoreless seventh inning striking out three.
 
Next up for the Lions is Senior Night tomorrow against Missouri Western with first pitch from the Par Lipira Softball Complex set for 12 pm (noon).