Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern softball team got a dramatic sweep over Newman today winning 2-1 and 4-3 today inside the Pat Lipira Softball Complex with Seniors Tori Frazier and Kristen Wade leading the way and Bailey Lacy going over 200 career strikeouts.
 
The Lions (26-21, 14-10 MIAA) and Newman (18-28, 9-15 MIAA) began the day with a pitchers duel in game one with both offenses being grounded until the third where the Jets got a one run lead. A scoreless fourth and top half of the fifth paved the way for the Lions to take the lead in the bottom of the inning. Adrianna Young got on base with a bunt single to the pitcher before stealing second base and a Kristen Wade walk put runners on first and second. Tori Frazier delivered a bloop two RBI double to left field scoring Young and Wade in what became the winning runs.
 
Southern got runners on first and second again in the sixth after blanking the Jets in the top half with Bailey Lacy picking up her 200th strikeout in the inning but the Lions could not push anyone across home plate in the sixth. Newman had runners on second and third with one out by a Lacy strikeout and a game sealing groundout to Josie Tofpi secured the win for the Lions. 
 
In the game Adrianna Young and Tori Frazier had hits with Young and Kristen Wade scoring. Bailey Lacy collected her 12th win with a complete game throwing four strikeouts and issuing out no walks. 
 
The Lions began and ended the scoring in game two with the first run of the game coming by way of an Adrianna Young inside the park home run in the 2nd inning. Newman got two runs in the 2nd and kept the Lions at bay in the bottom half of the inning for a 2-1 lead. Both teams cooled off from their hot starts until the bottom of the sixth where Yazmin Vargas hit a bunt single before stealing second and third base before scoring on a throwing error by the catcher to make it 2-2. Newman got a run in the top of the seventh to put the pressure back on the Lions to respond and they delivered.
 
Abby DeSanto ripped a triple to right field to begin the inning before scoring on a bunt single by Kristen Wade to send the game into extra innings. In extras the Lions would get a chance to end it in the 10th as a Grace Parrott single to left field set up back-to-back sacrifice bunts by Frazier and Vargas to move Sidnie Hurst who pinch ran for Parrott to third but could not score her in the inning. 
 
In the top of the 11th Newman got a runner into scoring position thanks to a sacrifice bunt by a heads up stop by Wade at third base kept the game tied with the Lions due up. Ashlynn Williams began the bottom half of the 11th with a single up the middle and a DeSanto walk put runners on first and second before Young worked a walk for the bases loaded with one out. A heads up play by the Jets third baseman getting the force at the plate before securing the double play to end the inning set the game into the 12th inning.
 
With the international runner now being in place Newman had their leadoff hitter placed on second but she did not progress any farther as the Lions got a flyout and two groundouts to head into the bottom half of the inning with momentum. Wade was the runner put on second for the Lions and after a groundout moved to third with Frazier coming up to bat. The two seniors seemed destined to cement the sweep with another key moment this time it was Wade who capitalized on a passed ball to score, walking it off 4-3 winners. 
 
DeSanto set a school record with 22 putouts in the game with the previous record being 19 owned by Lori Holzworth (May 3rd and 12th, 1985), Kelly Hale (March 16, 2000) and Kristen Armilio (April 12, 2003). This is more than likely the second longest game in program history just behind the 13 inning games played against Northeastern State on March 27th, 1985 and St. Mary's on March 16th, 2000, the game duration of three hours and two minutes is what may also be one of the longest games in program history.
 
Getting hits and scoring a run in the game where Vargas, DeSanto, Young and Wade while Bailey Lacy got her 13th win coming after four innings of one hit shutout ball in relief.
 
Up next for the Lions will be #4 Central Oklahoma in Joplin to close the regular season. The Bronchos with a split today against Pittsburg State will enter the MIAA tournament hosted by the school next week as the two seed while the Lions can depending on results around the league end up anywhere from fourth to sixth but have secured a berth into the MIAA tournament. First pitch tomorrow is set for 1:00 and 3:00pm approximately from the Pat Lipira Softball Complex with the Lions honoring Seniors Tori Frazier and Kristen Wade following the conclusion of the second game.