Hays, Kan. - The Missouri Southern softball program picked up the fifth conference sweep of the season beating Fort Hays State 6-0 and 9-1 in five innings at the Fleharty Family Field on Sunday Apr. 2nd.

The Lions (26-7, 11-1 MIAA) got another dominate performance from Bailey Lacy with eight strikeouts in her third complete game shutout of the season. Katie Gray led the offense with three RBIs, Josie Tofpi went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Yazmin Vargas scored twice to lead the team.

In game one neither team scored in the first inning but an Abby DeSanto double to left field scored Kara Amos to give the Lions a 1-0 lead over Fort Hays State (24-13, 6-4 MIAA). Southern would add four runs in the fifth with a Tofpi single up the middle and a Gray bases clearing triple to go up 5-0. The scoring would end in the sixth inning with a Tofpi single through the left side allowing Vargas to score for the final scoreline of 6-0.

Looking to claim the sweep the Lions turned to Avery Tallman to start game two as she finished with four complete innings from 40 pitches with no walks issued and on unearned run allowed from two hits for her 13th win of the season. Natalie Bates pitched the fifth inning and claimed two strikeouts swinging to ensure the run rule victory. Leighton Withers and Amos finished with two RBIs each as Vargas and Adrianna Young scored twice to lead the team.

In the first inning the Lions and Tigers scored one run each to make it a 1-1 tie heading into the second inning. Southern would make sure the tie didn't last long with a Young double down the right field line scoring Ashlynn Williams and a Perry bunt to second base scoring Young to make it a 3-1 lead. 

The Lions would strike again in the fourth inning with six runs from five hits and forced the TIgers into two pitching changes to claim the 9-1 lead and run rule Fort Hays State.

Up next for the Lions will be a home double header against rival Pittsburg State on Saturday Apr. 8th with first pitch from the Pat Lipira Softball Complex set for 2:00pm.

Career Update
Yazmin Vargas - Moved past Breanna Volkmann (2009-12) and Shari Heider (1993-96) for eighth in runs scored with 111.

Leighton Withers - Moved past Erika Lutgen (2017-20) for sixth in RBIs with 110.

Josie Tofpi - Is now tied with Erika Lutgen (17-20) for seventh in RBIs with 109.