Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern softball program achieved a two-game sweep over Nebraska-Kearney this evening by a score line of 9-3 and 3-0 inside the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.
The Lions (18-15, 6-4 MIAA) were matched up with Nebraska-Kearney (16-14, 6-2 MIAA) who was coming into today riding an 11-game winning streak and was tied atop the MIAA standings at 6-0. In game one a 9-3 win Southern jumped out to a three run lead as a
Leighton Withers double to left field scored
Yazmin Vargas and
Josie Tofpie and a
Kara Amos single up the middle would later score Withers.
In the second inning the Lions would add another run off a Tofpi sacrifice fly scoring
Adrianna Young with the Lopers scoring three in the top of the third for a 4-3 score. Back-to-back bases loaded walks drawn by
Grace Parrott and
Abby DeSanto before Young hit a sacrifice fly to score
Kristen Wade to end the scoring in the inning up 7-3.
In the sixth inning Tofpi hit her second sacrifice fly of the game this time to score Young and Withers added the cherry on top with a solo home run to right center that narrowly avoided the flag pole and cars parked in the area to secure the 9-3 win.
In the game
Leighton Withers went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored,
Josie Tofpi collected two RBIs while
Adrianna Young and
Kara Amos went 2-for-3 as well. Amos pitched all seven innings and struck out eight Lopers while earning her eighth win of the season.
Game two was a pitchers duel for all but one half inning as the lions came away 3-0 winners. The Lions defense executed a 6-3 double play to close out the first inning and began the defensive battle that ensued.
In the fourth inning the Lions drew a lead off walk by
Josie Tofpi before a perfectly executed bunt single by
Leighton Withers made it runners on first and second with no out but the Lions could not capitalize in the inning. The sixth inning saw
Yazmin Vargas with a lead off bunt single before a Tofpi single up the middle forced a pitching change. After stealing second and third,
Leighton Withers hit her second home run of the game and sixth of the season to right field to seal the 3-0 win.
Bailey Lacy picked up her eighth win of the season in the complete game shutout and got two of her eight strikeouts in the seventh with two Lopers caught looking at third strikes. Withers went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Topfi went 2-for-2.
The Lions are set to play Fort Hays State tomorrow inside the Pat Lipira Softball Complex at 1:00 and 3:00 pm as both teams are coming off sweeps today as the Tigers picked up their first wins of MIAA play today against Pittsburg State.
