Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern softball program begins the MIAA tournament against Missouri Western tomorrow at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex with a double-header to begin at 3 pm. 
 
This will be a rematch from the Lions (28-13-1, 19-6-1 MIAA) and Griffons (27-17, 16-10 MIAA) after playing each other to wrap up the regular season last Saturday in Joplin with the Lions getting the sweep winning both game by one run.
 
As a team, the Lions lead the MIAA in double plays turned (17), stolen bases (91), stolen bases per game (2.17), triples (22), triples per game (0.52), and sacrifice bunts (29), while ranking third in on-base percentage (.372), fourth in scoring (5.12) and win-loss percentage (.679), fifth in total runs (215) and sixth in batting average (.299) as the Lions have eight batters hitting .300 or better. In Division II the Lions rank fourth in triples, seventh in double plays, 11^th in triples per game, 15^th in stolen bases, 27^th in stolen bases per game and 28^th in sacrifice bunts.
 
The All-MIAA Softball teams were announced yesterday and this matchup will feature the conference Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, three first-team selections, two second-team selections along with seven named honorable mention.
 
Head coach Hallie Blackney earned her first coach of the year honor, becoming the third head coach to earn such achievement at Missouri Southern and the first since Ron Faubion guided the team to the 2001 regular and postseason crowns. Legendary coach Pat Lipira was a five-time winner of the award being picked in 1990, 92, 93, 95 and 98)
 
Shortstop Josie Tofpi earned her second career All-MIAA honor being named onto the first-team for the first time after being named honorable mention as a true freshman. Tofpi leads the Lions in batting average (.410), hits (55), runs scored (34), doubles (13), RBIs (32), total bases (81), slugging percentage (.604), on-base percentage (.459), and assists (95). In the MIAA she ranks first in assists, tied for second in double plays turned (9), third in hits, fourth in batting average and doubles, fifth in on-base percentage, and is tied for sixth in runs scored. In Division II ranks 26^th in hits and 29^th in doubles.
 
Catcher Ashlynn Williams and utility / pitcher Kara Amos were named to the second-team this season in their first for the Lions. Williams has a .302 batting average with nine doubles, a team-high five triples, four home runs, 32 RBIs, is slugging .594 and has 204 putouts. In the MIAA she ranks second in triples (12^th in Division II), 11^th in putouts and has caught seven runners stealing this season. Amos in the circle is 9-5 with a 2.73 ERA in 21 appearances having pitched 71.2 innings so far and striking out 51 while limiting opposing batters to a.251 batting average. In the MIAA she is ninth in ERA, tenth in opposing batting average and WHIP (1.28). With the bat Amos has a .337 batting average with four home runs and 24 RBIs to go with a .452 on-base percentage (10^th in MIAA), drawing a team-high 18 walks.
 
Earning honorable mentions were Makaila Leonhart, Abby Atkin, Leighton Withers, Yazmin Vargas and Adrianna Young.
 
Leonhart has a .303 batting average, nine doubles, three triples, 15 RBIs, is slugging .479, has gone 12-14 on stolen bases and has 86 assists. In the MIAA she ranks tied for second in double plays turned (9), tied for sixth in triples, tied for second in sacrifice bunts (7), and tenth in assists.
 
Atkin is 9-5 with a 2.74 ERA in the circle making 26 appearances, has five complete games, and a shutout in 102.1 innings, striking out 40 and limits opposing batters to a .268 batting average. Atkin became the 12^thSouthern pitcher to have 200 career strikeout this season and currently is tenth with 202.
 
Withers has a .343 batting average with seven doubles, three triples and home runs, 29 RBIs, slugging .552, and has a .454 on-base percentage (7^thin MIAA) to go with 102 putouts and 32 assists playing across the infield this season. Tied the single-game record for hit-by-pitches (3) and set the single-season record (12) this season.
 
Vargas has a .317 batting average with 32 runs scored and leads the MIAA while being fifth in Division II in stolen bases going 29-31, her great speed has helped her lead the outfield with 88 putouts this season. Currently she is tied for eighth for a single-season stolen base tally at Southern.
 
Young has a .301 batting average with 11 RBIs and is 13-16 in stolen bases ranking tenth in the MIAA.
 
The Griffons are led by MIAA Player of the Year Sydni Hawkins with a .496 batting average, 48 runs scored, 68 hits, 11 doubles, seven home runs, 100 total bases, slugging .730, has a .537 on-base percentage and is 21-22 in stolen bases. Emma Hoffart was named onto the first team as a utility player after posting a .377 batting average, with nine doubles, five home runs, 36 RBIs, a .562 slugging percentage, .427 on-base percentage and has gone 13-13 in stolen bases. Pitchers Kaili Hinds and Sydney Rader were honorable mentions this season, Hinds went 12-7 in 24 appearances in 109.2 innings, striking out 63 and limiting opposing batters to a .223 batting average. Rader went 13-6 this season in 21 appearances in 120 innings, striking out 99 and limiting opposing batters to a .260 batting average.
 
The winner of this best-of-three series will face off against the winner of the Central Missouri and Washburn's matchup Thursday May 13^th in Edmond, Okla. to begin the semifinal round of the MIAA Tournament.