Joplin, Mo. - The 13th ranked Missouri Southern softball program concluded their season at the NCAA Central Regional on Friday, May 12th at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.
The Lions (41-15) began the day off against Southern Arkansas (43-13), losing in a walk-off fashion 5-2. Southern was led by
Kara Amos with a two run home run in the first giving the Lions and pitched the first three innings. SAU got on the board in the bottom of the first with a solo home run and tied it up 2-2 in the fifth. In the 7th inning the Muleriders got runners on the corners with a walk-off home run sending them into the Central Regional Championship game tomorrow.
Southern played Rogers State (45-13) in the nightcap of the day with the winner advancing to play Southern Arkansas in the championship game tomorrow. The Lions got 4.2 innings of gritty work from
Natalie Bates to finish with five strikeouts with
Bailey Lacy pitching the last inning and struck out two.
The Hillcats scored in the first inning for an early 2-0 lead before adding run in the fifth and sixth innings to advance to the champion game against SAU tomorrow.
For the Lions this was the end of the season that began with being picked fifth in the MIAA Preseason Poll before finishing second in the regular season standings and heading into the final day was in contention to win the regular season title. Southern advanced to the championship game of the MIAA Tournament for the first time since 2001, hosted the third regional in program history (1992 & 93) and was involved in the programs ninth ever NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2001.Â
