Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern softball program is set to open MIAA play this weekend as they will face off with Central Missouri and Lincoln inside the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.
The Lions (11-7) will begin with Central Missouri (5-12) tomorrow in a double header starting at 4:00 pm with game two set for approximately for 6:00 pm. Southern will then finish the week on Monday against Lincoln (11-6) with the first game set at 3:00 pm and game two beginning at 5:00 pm.
Leading the charge individually for the Lions Kara Amos is hitting .382 with 21 hits, eight doubles and a .452 on base percentage, in the circle Amos is 5-4 with 12 appearances with 60 innings of work with 46 strikeouts and limits opposing teams to a .266 batting average. Ashlynn Williams is hitting .373 this season with 19 hits, three being triples, has 20 RBIs, a .627 slugging percentage while drawing seven walks and recording a team-high 108 putouts.
Yazmin Vargas is batting .353 so far with 18 runs scored and 18 hits so far and is 10-13 on the basepaths. Leighton Withers is hitting .314 with 16 hits with five being doubles and a team-high two home runs with 18 RBIs and has a team-high 27 assists. Josie Tofpi is hitting .325 with 13 hits and has eight RBIs in the early going and Tori Frazier rounds out the lineup that hits .300 or better. Bailey Lacy owns a 4-2 record in the circle with a 2.36 ERA in 34.1 innings of work while striking out 33 and limits opposing batters to a .274 batting average.
Central Missouri is coming off a tough non-conference schedule that saw the Jennies go 2-4 against NFCA Top-25 teams this season beating Minnesota State and Georgian Court. This will be the first game for the Jennies not at a neutral site as well.
Aubrie McRoberts leads the team with a .371 batting average with 13 hits and is 6-6 on the basepaths. MaKenzie Cooper is second on the team batting .342 with 13 hits that includes two home runs and has a team-high seven RBIs.
Ashlyn Cook has four doubles this season but has struck out 11 times this season while being the best on the team on the basepaths going 8-10. In the circle Kyleigh Lay is 2-2 in 11 appearances while owning a 2.93 ERA in 28.2 innings of work while striking out 43 batters and limits opposing batters to a .194 batting average.
Sadie Parks should figure to get a start this weekend as well and is 2-4 with a 4.74 ERA in 44.1 innings of work the most on the team while having 42 strikeouts and holds opposing batters to a .335 batting average. Gentry Wishard and Kaylee Diggs are also available for the Jennies in the circle as well.
Lincoln is off to a 11-6 start and is lead by Leslie Callahan with a .522 batting average with 24 hits, scoring 23 runs with six doubles, two home runs, 22 RBIs while slugging .826 and drawing 10 walks for a .614 on base percentage while also swiping 9-10 bases and has a team-high 35 assists. Chloe Olson has a .385 batting average with 15 hits, 16 RBIs and has recorded a team-high 88 putouts.
The Blue Tigers currently have 11 batters hitting .310 or better this season with eight batters also having 10 or more hits already. In the circle Jordan Galliher is 3-2 in seven appearances with 34 innings of work, striking out 40 and limits opposing batters to a .227 batting average. Aidan Dayberry should figure to be the other starter this weekend and currently has a 2.72 ERA in 29.2 innings of work while owning a 5-2 record with 33 strikeouts and limits opposing batters to a .238 batting average.
