Maryville, Mo. – The Missouri Southern softball program is set to play in the Fairfield Classic this weekend as part of the Northwest Missouri pod facing off with Concordia – St. Paul and Winona State, before coming home to take on #21 Minnesota State on Monday.
In Maryville the Lions will play tomorrow at 2:00pm against CSP before wrapping up the day at 4:00pm against Winona State. On Sunday the Lions will play Winona State first at 9:00am before playing CSP at 1:00pm to end the tournament for Southern. A quick trip back home to play #21 Minnesota State will see the end of the weekend as the Mavericks and Lions are set to play Monday inside the Pat Lipira Softball Complex at 11:00am and 1:00pm.
The Lions (14-8, 3-1 MIAA) are lead by
Kara Amos with a .403 batting average with 27 hits, 11 doubles, a .467 on base percentage while also making 14 appearances in the circle with a 6-4 record in 69 innings of work to go with 47 strikeouts a 3.25 ERA and holds opposing batters to a .256 batting average. Ashlyn Williams is second on the team with a .397 batting average while having 25 hits, six doubles, four triples, 23 RBIs a .667 slugging percentage and has a team-high 128 putouts.
Yazmin Vargas is hitting .391 with 25 hits, 23 runs scored and three triples while going 12-16 off stolen bases.
Josie Tofpi (.358),
Leighton Withers (.333) and
Kristen Wade (.306) round out the hitters with a .300 or above batting average. In the circle the Lions have
Bailey Lacy who is 6-3 with a 1.90 ERA in 51.2 innings of work this season while striking out 50 and holds opposing batters to a .269 batting average.
Concordia – St. Paul (13-2-1) is led by Grace Beseman with a .460 batting average with 23 hits while having two home runs, nine RBIs, a .600 slugging percentage with a .509 on base percentage and went 5-7 on thefts. Alexus Houston owns a .417 batting average with 15 hits, four of them being home runs, slugs .778 and is 5-6 on thefts. Amanda Parsons owns a .395 average with 17 hits with five being doubles and leads the team with 87 putouts. Clara Heislen (.333), Emma Lero (.450), Halle Bemmels (.333) and Annalise Scamehorn (.308) to round out batters with at least 10 at bats this season and have a .300 or better batting average. In the circle Bryanna Olson has a 1.02 ERA with a 9-1 record in nine starts with eight complete games and has two saves as well in 61.2 innings of work with 61 strikeouts and limits opposing hitters to a .188 batting average. Erica McCullough should be a starter as well and owns a 2.78 ERA with a 2-1 record in 27.2 innigns with 20 strikeouts and holds opposing batters to a .328 batting average. Kristi Pilz owns a 1.02 ERA and a 2-0 record working mostly in relief with 13.2 innings of work and limits opposing batters to a .216 average.
Winona State (12-6) is led by Abbie Hlas with a .365 average with 19 hits, scoring 10 runs with five doubles, slugs .519 and owns a .424 on base percentage. Sam Keller owns a .352 average with 19 hits, Marissa Mullen and Kayla Kerkman have .349 averages with 15 hits each. Rylee Stout has a .340 average as well with two home runs and has 134 putouts. In the circle Liz Pautz has a 2.48 ERA with a 7-3 record in 70..2 innings of work with 126 strikeouts and only 18 walks issued so far while limiting opposing batters to a .195 average. Emilee Erickson should also figure to start and is 1-1 with a 8.04 ERA in 15.2 innings of work where 15 of her 25 hits have been for extra bases and opposing hitters have a .379 average.
Minnesota State (13-4) was tabbed to finish second in the NSIC preseason coaches poll after falling to Augustana (S.D.) in the Central Regional Tournament last season and returns one of the best pitchers in Division II. A NFCA All-American a season ago Mackenzie Ward is off to a 8-2 start with a 0.86 ERA in 65.1 innings with 93 strikeouts and holds opposing batters to a .166 average. Kylie Sullivan leads the offense with a .383 average with 18 hits, six being doubles and has two home runs with 10 RBIs, slugs .681 with a .491 on base percentage and is 6-6 on the base paths. Madi Neman owns a .327 average with 16 hits with a team-high three home runs and 18 RBIs. Sydney Nielsen (.315), Torey Richards (.304) and Katie Bracken (.300) round out hitters that have a .300 or better batting average. This season the Mavericks owe three of their four losses to MIAA schools (Missouri Western, Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri).
