Joplin, Mo. - The 25th ranked Missouri Southern softball program will host Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western this weekend in conference double headers beginning on Friday, Apr. 21st at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.

Game schedule for the weekend is set for 2:00/4:00pm start times on Friday against Northwest Missouri and 1:00/3:00pm start times against Missouri Western on Saturday. Following the conclusion of the second game against the Griffons on Saturday the Lions will honor seniors Ashlynn Williams, Bailey Lacy, Grace Parrott, Josie Tofpi, Leighton Withers and Sidnie Hurst along with the Griffons seniors.

Southern (31-8, 16-2 MIAA) as a team is hitting .322 while averaging 6.4 runs, 8.9 hits, 1.6 doubles, 0.9 home runs and 1.8 stolen bases per game. As a pitching staff the Lions have a 2.68 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and opponents hitting .254 while striking out 5.6 times per game.

Yazmin Vargas leads the team with a .422 average, 36 runs and 26 stolen bases while having 43 hits, three doubles, two triple and a home run for eight RBIs. Withers is hitting .411 with 44 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 40 RBIs, 27 walks drawn and six stolen bases. Emily Perry is hitting .372 with 42 hits, nine doubles, five home runs, 25 RBIs and nine stolen bases. Tofpi is hitting .339 with 39 hits, six doubles, five home runs and 29 RBIs. Kara Amos is hitting .316 with 25 hits, three doubles, one home run and 17 RBIs. Adrianna Young is hitting.313 with 31 hits, three doubles, two triples a home run, 13 RBIs and nine stolen bases.Katie Gray is hitting .322 with 19 hits, five doubles, one triple, three home runs and 18 RBIs. Williams is hitting .297 with 35 hits, nine doubles, one triple, four home runs and 24 RBIs.

In the circle Lacy is 10-1 with a 1.93 ERA, 1.28 WHIP from 83.1 innings with opponents hitting .232 and striking out 83 times. Avery Tallman is 14-2 with a 2.25 ERA, 1.18 WHIP from 96.1 innings with opponents hitting .249 and striking out 49 times. Natalie Bates is 6-3 with a 3.10 ERA, 1.45 WHIP from 58.2 innings with opponents hitting .274 and striking out 62 times. Amos is 1-2 with a 5.88 ERA, 1.64 WHIP from 25.0 innings with 23 strikeouts.

Northwest Missouri (24-20, 7-11 MIAA) as a team is hitting .292 while averaging 4.7 runs, 7.9 hits, 1.2 doubles, 0.8 home runs and 1.2 stolen bases per game. As a pitching staff the Bearcats have a 4.23 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and opponents hitting .283 while striking out 5.2 times per game.

Olivia Daugherty leads the team with a .407 average, 55 hits, 11 home runs and 42 RBIs while scoring 25 runs and hitting 10 doubles. Omara Love is hitting .372 with 24 runs scored, 51 hits, 10 doubles, 14 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Lillie Filger is hitting .351 with 30 runs scored, 52 hits and 18 stolen bases. 

In the circle Jadyn Streigle is 11-7 with a 3.31 ERA, 1.52 WHIP from 114.1 innings with opponents hitting .291 and striking out 72 times. Breck Dickey is 7-9 with a 4.94 ERA, 1.72 WHIP from 89.1 innings with opponents hitting .278 and striking out 87 times. Hayden Simmons is 4-1 with a 2.22 ERA, 1.41 WHIP from 34.2 innings with opponents hittin g.209 and striking out 49 times.

Missouri Western (29-14, 9-9 MIAA) as a team is hitting .307 while averaging 5.6 runs, 8.3 hits, 1.7 doubles, 0.8 home runs and 0.7 stolen bases per game. As a pitching staff the Griffons have a 2.16 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and opponents hitting .227 while striking out 6.1 times per game.

Sydni Hawkins leads the team with a .459 average, 38 runs scored, 67 hits, 17 doubles and 11 stolen bases. Mackenzie DeVine is hitting .336 with 31 runs scored, 40 hits, seven doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 34 RBIs. Abby Dickey is hitting .324 with 20 runs scored, 23 hits, three doubles, three triples, two home runs and 14 RBIs. Harley Pruetting is hitting .299 with 29 hits, eight doubles, four home runs and 16 RBIs. Kalee Higdon is hitting .297 with 28 runs scored, 35 hits, eight doubles, four home runs and 23 RBIs.

In the circle Pruetting is 15-5 with a 1.79 ERA, 1.10 WHIP from 113.2 innings with opponents hitting .216 and striking out 113 times. Sam Pederson is 12-5 with a 1.90 ERA, 1.00 WHIP from 132.2 innings with opponents hitting .208 and striking out 126 times. Natalie Kissinger is 2-3 with a 3.97 ERA, 1.56 WHIP from 42.1 innings with opponents hitting .309 and striking out 25 times.