Joplin, Mo. - Softball closed their regular season with a final doubleheader in Joplin against the Jets of Newman for senior day. The Lions had a loud start with a 12-0 run-rule victory in game one, but lost a close battle in game two. The Lions finish their regular season at 32-21 (12-14 MIAA) on the season.
Missouri Southern vs. Newman - Game One
W, 12-0 /5 inn.
The Lions got started quickly with two unanswered runs in the first from an RBI single from
Taylor Nuckolls and a sacrifice fly from
Katie Gray. After the Lions got another run in the second from a throwing error, the Lions had a huge seventh inning. The third inning got started with a three-run homerun from
Carsen Tinkler that gave the Lions a 6-0 lead.
Yazmin Vargas kept the third inning going with an RBI single which was followed by a
Taylor Nuckolls RBI groundout. After a run from a wild pitch,
Kara Amos ended the third with an RBI single to give the Lions a 10-0 lead. The Lions defense held the shutout in place as the Lions added two more runs in the fourth from a bases loaded hit-by-pitch and walk to take a 12-0 lead. The Jets could not put any offense together as the Lions completed the run-rule shutout to win in five innings, 12-0.
Natalie Bates (5-1) picked up the win for the Lions and pitched the final 3.1 innings and gave up three hits and zero runs while striking out three of the 14 batters she faced in the shutout win.
Lily Rand, who started the game, also got credit for the combined shutout.
Missouri Southern vs. Newman - Game Two
L, 6-5
Taylor Nuckolls got things started for the Lions again with another RBI single to drive in
Kylee Jacks, who got on by a walk prior, to give the Lions a 1-0 lead in the first. The Lions added to their lead with a solo homerun from
Katie Gray in the second. The Lions continued to score unanswered runs in the third with a sacrifice fly from
Yazmin Vargas to take a 3-0 lead into the fourth. The Jets finally hit the scoreboard in the fourth with a two-run homerun. The Lions struggled offensively as the Jets added four more runs from two two-RBI singles to take a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh. The Lions began to rally back with a two-RBI single from
Taylor Nuckolls, but could not add another as the Jets pulled off the win in game two, 6-5.
Up Next
The Missouri Southern Softball team will travel to Edmond, Oklahoma to compete in the MIAA Tournament next week, which takes place on May 1-4 at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.
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