Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Softball team competed in day one of the Teri Mathis-Zenner MIAA/NSIC Crossover Tournament against Augustana University in a non-conference doubleheader. The Lions began the day with a battle against Augustana, to which they came out on top in game one but lost game two after a long wait due to weather delays. The Lions advance to 20-7 (3-1 MIAA) on the season.
Missouri Southern vs. Augustana - Game One
W, 3-2
Kara Amos replaced
Kiki Pickens in the first and helped leave three Viking runners on base before they could reach home, keeping the game scoreless after one inning. The Vikings were able to cross home in the second, scoring two unanswered runs.
Yazmin Vargas tied the Missouri Southern all-time run record as she advanced to home on a bobbled throw to third to narrow the Lions deficit to 2-1.
Taylor Nuckolls hit a nice shot into left field which bounced off the glove of the left fielder and brought Nuckolls all the way around the diamond for a two-RBI inside-the-park homerun to give the Lions a 3-2 lead after five innings of play.
Lily Rand closed the game out by not allowing any more Viking runs as the Lions won game one, 3-2.
Lily Rand (2-1) picked up the win for the Lions and pitched 2.1 innings and gave up 2 hits and zero earned runs while striking out two of the 10 batters she faced.
Missouri Southern vs. Augusta - Game Two
L, 12-8
The Lions struck the scoreboard first with a RBI single from
Kara Amos to give the Lions an early 1-0 lead after the first inning. The Vikings found a rhythm and scored six straight runs to give them a 6-1 lead.
Taylor Nuckolls returned in the bottom of the third with an RBI single that drove in
Yazmin Vargas for her 148th career run which surpassed Lions assistant coach
Josie Tofpi for the Missouri Southern all-time run record. The Vikings showed no signs of slowing down as they added another six runs to take a 12-2 lead after the top of the fifth. The Lions were not going out without a fight, scoring four runs from two Viking errors and a
Kate Thurman RBI grounded to continue the game at 12-6. The weather then delayed the game over two hours before continuing. The Lions defense held strong and did not allow another Viking run, but could only return with two of their own as the Vikings won game two, 12-8.
Lily Rand (2-2) picked up the loss for the Lions and pitched 1.0 inning and gave up zero hits and one earned run while walking one of the 5 batters that she faced.Â
Up Next
The Missouri Southern Softball team will host day two of the Teri Mathis-Zenner MIAA/NSIC Crossover Tournament on March 15 against St. Cloud State at 2:00 PM and #22 Concordia-St. Paul at 4:00 PM.
