Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern softball program is set to play #6 Rogers State in the opening round of the 2022 MIAA Softball Tournament hosted by Central Oklahoma on Thursday at 4:00pm.
The Lions (26-23, 14-12 MIAA) were originally slated to take on the third seeded Hillcats (43-9, 20-6 MIAA) on Wednesday but forecasts in the Edmond area have pushed back the start of the Tournament that will now begin on Thursday and end on Sunday with times remaining in place as originally scheduled.
This season Southern finished sixth in the MIAA standings while posting back-to-back winning seasons overall and in conference play for the first time since the 2000-2002 seasons. As a team the Lions are batting .286 and have a 3.31 ERA to rank fifth in both categories in the MIAA, while being the best team in the conference in hitting triples with 25 to rank fifth in Division-II and was second in double plays turned with 21 to rank 15th in Division-II.
Individually the Lions are led by
Ashlynn Williams with a .352 average, with 51 hits, eight doubles, four triples, six home runs, 43 RBIs, with a .586 slugging percentage and has 259 putouts.
Yazmin Vargas is hitting .348 with 46 runs scored, 50 hits, seven doubles, five triples, two home runs, 14 RBIs, while drawing 16 walks and going 23-29 in stolen base attempts this season and recording 71 putouts in the outfield.
Josie Tofpi is hitting .313 with 28 runs scored, 40 hits, four doubles, five triples, two home runs, 22 RBIs and has provided 94 assists.
Kara Amos is hitting .302 with 42 hits, 16 doubles and 25 RBIs.
Adrianna Young is hitting .295 with 25 runs scored, 41 hits, four triples, two home runs, 23 RBIs, is 8-12 in stolen base attempts while recording 68 putouts in the outfield.
Kristen Wade has 32 hits this season with six being doubles and has 51 putouts and 75 assists.
Abby DeSanto has 22 hits this season with five doubles, two triples, four home runs while slugging .483 and has 109 putouts.
In the circle Southern has
Bailey Lacy (13-10) and
Kara Amos (11-10) available with both appearing in at least 30 games and starting in 20. Lacy has a 2.74 ERA with nine complete games, five shutouts in 138 innings with 117 strikeouts and opponents hit .263 against her. Amos has a 3.13 ERA with 13 complete games and two shutouts in 138.2 innings of work with 94 strikeouts and opponents are hitting .268 against her.
Avery Tallman could figure to also make an appear either in relief of as a starter after pitching 42 innings while issuing out only eight walks and striking out 24 batters this season.
Rogers State is a familiar opponent as the Hillcats were matchup up with the Lions in last season's MIAA Softball Tournament with them coming away 2-1 winners and made it to the championship game losing to Central Missouri. As a team Rogers State leads the MIAA in ERA (1.49), shutouts (20), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.62) and WHIP (0.89) while ranking in the top-six in each category among Division-II schools. The Hillcats as a team are hitting .284 with 52 home runs hit and slugs .471.
Individually Rogers State is led by Andrea Morales (26-3) with a 1.01 ERA in 32 appearances with 27 starts to go with 21 complete games and 11 shutouts, Morales has recorded two saves and has pitched in 179.2 innings with 265 strikeouts and only 21 walks while opponents hit .144 against her. The back-to-back pitcher of the week is coming into the matchup with the Lions giving up one hit in her last 19 innings with a perfect game and a no-hitter in back-to-back games. M'Kayla Hillman (14-6) has a 1.87 ERA in 25 appearances with 22 starts and nine complete games with 127.1 innings of work with 67 strikeouts and 44 walks while opponents are hitting .223 against her.
From the batter's box Elexis Watson leads the way with a .383 average with 49 hits, seven doubles and 12 home runs with 26 RBIs while slugging .719 and has drawn 28 walks for a .500 on base percentage and has recorded 319 putouts. Abbey Rogers is hitting .336 with 38 hits, seven doubles, nine home runs, 45 RBIs, has a .637 slugging percentage and 202 putouts. Bridgett Morales (.330), Lana Gass (.317) and Callie Yellin (.317) all have over 10 extra base hits each and have a slugging percentage north of .470. Makayla Bowman and Chelsea Spain each have seven home runs this season and Nicole Price leads the team with 85 assists.
The winner of this game will take on the winner of Central Oklahoma and Nebraska-Kearney on Friday at 6:30pm while the loser will take on the loser of the previous matchup as well at 1:30pm on Friday.
MIAA Softball Tournament Schedule
Thursday, May 5
GAME 1 | 11:30 AM | No. 1 seed Washburn vs. No. 8 seed Emporia State
GAME 2 | 1:30 PM | No. 4 seed Missouri Western vs. No. 5 seed Northeastern State
GAME 3 | 4:00 PM | No. 3 seed Rogers State vs. No. 6 seed Missouri Southern
GAME 4 | 6:30 PM | No. 2 seed Central Oklahoma vs. No. 7 seed Nebraska Kearney
Friday, May 6
GAME 5 | 11:00 AM | Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2
GAME 6 | 1:30 PM | Loser Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4
GAME 7 | 4:00 PM | Winner of Game 1 vs. WInner of Game 2
GAME 8 | 6:30 PM | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4
Saturday, May 7
GAME 9 | 10:00 AM | Winner of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 8
GAME 10 | 12:30 PM | Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 7
GAME 11 | 3:00 PM | Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8
GAME 12 | 5:30 PM | Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10
GAME 13 | 8:00 PM | Winner of Game 12 vs. Loser of Game 11
Sunday, May 8
GAME 14 | 1:30 PM | Winner of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 13
GAME 15 | If Necessary
