Tahlequah, Okla. – The Missouri Southern softball program split a double header against Northeastern State today at the RiverHawks Park, losing game one 5-4 before winning 10-7 in eight innings in the nightcap. 
 
The Lions (16-13, 4-2 MIAA) got two runs in the first inning of game one as a Josie Tofpi single to left field scored Yazmin Vargas who forced an error by the shortstop to begin the game. Ashlynn Williams picked up an RBI in the inning as well scoring Adrianna Young but the RiverHawks picked up a run as the Lions held a 2-1 advantage after the first inning. 
 
Neither team scored again until the fifth inning when Northeastern State came away with three runs for a 4-2 lead heading to the sixth inning. In the sixth Southern got on the board thanks to a Tofpi single up the middle that scored Abby DeSanto who was pinch hitting but the RiverHawks responded in the bottom half with a run as well for the 5-3 lead.
 
Ashlynn Williams launched the first pitch of the seventh inning over the left field fence for her third home run of the season. The Lions got a single by Kristen Wade and she was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sidnie Hurst, but Northeastern State got the third out on the next batter to seal their 5-4 win. 
 
Young, Tofpi and Williams each had two hits with Tofpi and Williams coming away with two RBIs as well and Avery Tallman came in to pitch for the final inning coming away with two strikeouts.
 
Game two began with NSU hitting a grand slam in the first inning. But the Lions chipped away with a Grace Parrott single to right field scoring Leighton Withers to make it 4-1 after two innings. Ashlynn Williams singled home Adrianna Young and Josie Tofpi to make it 4-3 in the third inning as Avery Tallman got out of a bases loaded jam with a strikeout. 
 
Both teams were scoreless in the fourth inning but Adrianna Young got a one out triple to right center before scoring off a Tofpi sacrifice fly to tie it up 4-4. In the bottom half of the inning the RiverHawks came away with two runs to regain the lead and head to the sixth up 6-4. 
 
Abby DeSanto began the three-run sixth for the Lions with her third home run of the season and a Yazmin Vargas triple to left field scored Kristen Wade and Tori Frazier for the 7-6 lead. Northeastern State picked up a run to tie it 7-7 in the sixth and in the bottom half almost walked-off but a Tori Frazier gunned down a runner at the plate to send the game into extras.
 
Riding the momentum, the Lions scored off a wild pitch before back-to-back singles by Young and Tofpi made it 10-7. In the bottom half of the eighth the RiverHawks couldn't muster a hit and grounded out three times as the Lions secured a comeback win 10-7.
 
Everyone in the Southern lineup had a hit today for the second time this season as Vargas, Tofpi and Williams came away with two RBIs each. Kara Amos pitched the final four inning in relief to pick up her seventh win of the season in the circle.
 
Next up for the Lions is fourth-ranked Rogers State (24-2, 4-0 MIAA). The Hillcats are on a 10-game winning streak and took out Pittsburg State 3-2, 4-3 today. First pitch against the Hillcats is set for 12:00 pm tomorrow from the Diamond Sports Complex in Claremore, Okla.