Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern softball program is ready for one last regular season road trip to conclude the regular season and conference play with trips to Newman and No. 5 Central Oklahoma scheduled this weekend.

The Lions will play against Newman in Wichita, Kan. on Saturday, Apr. 29th at the NU Softball Field in a double header beginning at 1:00pm and end the regular season on the road with a double header against No. 5 Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. on Sunday, Apr. 30th at Gerry Pinkston Stadium beginning at 1:00pm to decide the MIAA regular season champion. Heading into the weekend the Lions and Central Oklahoma are tied atop the MIAA standings with identical 19-3 records and will be the top two teams in the MIAA Tournament hosted in Topeka, Kan. at the Envitsta Softball Complex from Wednesday, May 3rd through Sunday, May 7th.

Southern (34-9, 19-3 MIAA) as a team is hitting .316 with 6.2 runs, 8.6 hits, 1.6 doubles, 0.9 home runs and 1.8 stolen bases a game. As a pitching staff the Lions have a 2.67 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, .253 opponent batting average and strikes out 5.7 batters a game.

Yazmin Vargas leads the team with a .422 average, 37 runs scored and 28 stolen bases, Leighton Withers is the second hitter batting over .400 at .410 with 48 hits, 11 doubles, 10 home runs, 43 RBIs and six stolen bases. Josie Tofpi is hitting .339 with 43 hits, seven doubles, five home runs and 32 RBIs, Emily Perry is htting .333 with 33 runs scored, 42 hits, nien doubles, five home runs, 25 RBIs and nine stolen bases. Adrianna Young is hitting .315 with 34 hits, three doubles, two triples, 13 RBIs and 10 stolen bases, Kara Amos is hitting .315 with 28 hits, four doubles, two home runs and 22 RBIs. Ashlynn Williams is hitting .305 with 39 hits, 10 doubles, five home runs and 27 RBIs, Katie Gray is hitting .303 with 20 hits, five doubles, three home runs and 18 RBIs. 

In the circle Bailey Lacy is 11-1 with two saves a 2.08 ERA, 1.30 WHIP from 25 appearances, 10 starts in 91.0 innings while holding opponents to a .232 average and striking out 92. Avery Tallman is 15-2 with a 2.20 ERA, 1.20 WHIP from 25 appearances, 18 starts in 101.2 innings while holding opponents to a .251 average and striking out 52. Natalie Bates is 7-4 with a 3.10 ERA, 1.42 WHIP from 18 appearances, 10 starts in 67.2 innings while holding opponents to a .262 average and striking out 71. Amos is 1-2 with two saves a 4.97 ERA, 1.58 WHIP from 17 appearances, five starts in 31.0 innings while holding opponents to a .295 average and striking out 29.

Newman (16-36, 4-18 MIAA) as a team is hitting .264 with 3.9 runs, 7.2 hits, 1.3 doubles, 0.3 home runs and 0.4 stolen bases a game. As a pitching staff the Jets have a 5.96 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, .315 opponent batting average and strikes out 3.3 batters a game.

Gianna Navarro leads the team with a .374 average and 65 hits with 26 runs scored, nine doubles, two home runs and 23 RBIs. Laurie Cooke is hitting .303 with 53 hits, nine doubles, three triples, 19 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. Madi Canez (.237) and Gianna De Luca-Paape (.233) lead the team with three home runs for 24 RBIs and four home runs for 26 RBIs.

In the circle Jackie Gold is 8-10 with a 4.86 ERA, 1.47 WHIP from 23 appearances, 17 starts in 122.1 innings while holding opponents to a .300 average and striking out 72. Madison Dewitt is 4-12 with a 5.96 ERA, 1.77 WHIP from 22 appearances, 17 starts in 94.0 innings while holding opponents to a .306 average and striking out 44. Megan Walz is 3-11 with a 6.32 ERA, 1.85 WHIP from 24 appearances, 16 starts in 106.1 innings while holding opponents to .324 average and striking out 45.

Central Oklahoma (39-6, 19-3 MIAA) as a team is hitting .332 with 7.3 runs, 8.9 hits, 1.9 doubles, 1.3 home runs and 1.1 stolen bases a game. As a pitching staff the Bronchos have a 2.44 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, .235 opponent batting average and strikes out 4.4 batters a game.

Shayla Harper leads the team with a .412 average, 45 runs scored, 11 home runs and 45 RBIs, Emily Deramus is hitting .376 with 42 runs scored, 59 hits, 15 doubles, four triples, nien home runs, 40 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Terin Ritz is hitting .369 with 35 runs scored, 48 hits, six doubles, nine home runs and 41 RBIs, Jacee Minter is hitting .364 with 43 runs scored, 51 hits, 10 doubles, nine home runs, 37 RBIs and five stolen bases. Rylee Lemos is hitting .325 with 39 runs scored, 49 hits, 14 doubles, three triples, 17 RBIs and 13 stolen bases, Amelya Huggins is hitting .318 with 41 hits, 12 doubles, four home runs and 28 RBIs. 

In the circle Jordyn Pipkin is 17-3 with a 1.81 ERA, 1.09 WHIP from 25 appearances, 20 starts in 127.1 innings while holding opponents to a .217 average and striking out 78. Ritz is 15-1 with two saves a 2.32 ERA, 1.07 WHIP from 24 appearances, 16 starts in 114.2 innings while holding opponents to a .241 average and striking out 77. Corrina Rivas is 7-2 with two saves a 4.15 ERA, 1.31 WHIP from 21 appearances, eight starts in 54.0 innings while holding opponents to a .258 average and striking out 42.