Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern softball program went 5-0 in the Lion Classic this year with wins over Rockhurst, Southwest Baptist, Truman State and Missouri S&T inside the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.
Southern (14-5) got things started with a run rule 10-2 victory over Rockhurst (3-8) followed. by a 4-2 win over Southwest Baptist (5-11) to end the day on Saturday. For Sunday the Lions played Truman State (3-11) coming away with 14-5 and 10-2 run rule victories over the Bulldogs. On Monday the Lions ended with a 6-2 win over Missouri S&T (8-9) which marked coach
Hallie Blackney's 100th win as the Lions coach doing so in 180 games. In program history only three coaches have eclipsed 100 career wins with Pat Lipira needing only 175 games and Bill Gray needing 250 to reach the achievement.
Against the Hawks the Lions got five runs in the first inning with
Ashlynn Williams,
Abby DeSanto and
Yazmin Vargas picking up RBIs. Southern would get five more runs in the fourth with
Josie Tofpi, Williams and DeSanto claiming RBIs in the inning as the Lions were able to execute the 10-2 run rule victory to begin the week.Â
Avery Tallman picked up the win with 4.0 innings in the circle striking out two with
Bailey Lacy pitching the final inning. DeSanto went 2-for-3 with five RBIs and two runs scored while hitting a home run.
To end the first day
Adrianna Young was hit by a pitch to score Williams in the second inning against SBU and following a two run top half by the Bearcats the Lions responded with three runs in the bottom half thanks to a Youg sacrifice fly and a pinch hit
Katie Gray double to left center scoring
Grace Parrott and Vargas.
Kara Amos picked up her first win of the season with a five strikeout complete game performance with only three hits surrendered. Gray and Young had two RBIs each while Vargas was the only Lion with multiple hits going 2-for-2 while drawing a walk and scoring once.
On Sunday the Lions began the double header against Truman State with eight runs in the first inning batting around the order once with an
Emily Perry grand slam the highlight of the scoring. Truman State scored three runs in the second and a Kate Thruman walk in run in the bottom half of the second made it a 9-3 game, DeSanto would push the lead to ten following a grand slam in the third and in the fourth a pinch hitting
Carsen Tinkler singled home
Sidnie Hurst for the 14-5 final scoreline.
Bailey Lacy picked up the win with 3.1 innings of relief and five strikeouts with
Avery Tallman striking out two in 1.2 innings of work. DeSanto went 2-for-3 with five RBis, Perry was 1-for-2 with four RBIs while
Leighton Withers and Hurst worked out two walks.
Game two against the Bulldogs had the visitors getting out to a 2-0 lead early before a Withers sacrifice fly and Vargas scoring on a wild pitch in the third inning to tie it up. In the fourth inning five runs were scored by the Lions and three more in the fifth to claim a 10-2 run rule win.
Natalie Bates got the win with five strikeouts in five innings with no walks issued, Vargas stole three bases going 2-for-3 with three runs scored, Withers went 2-for-2 with five RBIs and Perry went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
To end the week the Lions got three runs in the second off an error, passed ball and wild pitch for the early 3-0 lead. In the third inning a Thurman walk with the bases loaded scored Withers, the fourth inning would see the first Lions hit in a Tofpi single through the left side to score Perry for a 5-1 lead. The Miners got one run in the fifth and as a Wither single to left field scored Vargas in the sixth for the 6-2 final score.
Lacy got the win with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings, Amos had three strikeouts in 2.0 innings and Bates ended the game in the circle with a shutout inning and one strikeout. Vargas stole two more and scored once, Withers went 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored once. Perry, Williams and DeSanto earned two walks with all three later on scoring.
Up next for the Lions will be the beginning of the MIAA schedule with road double headers against Central Missouri and Lincoln. Southern is set to play the Jennies on Friday Mar. 10th from the South Recreation Complex at 2:00pm and 4:00pm. To end the weekend The Lions will play the Blue Tigers on Saturday Mar. 11th from Vogel Field at 12:00pm and 2:00pm.
