Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Softball team hosted its home opener against the Drury University Panthers. Southern picked up two wins over Drury, relying on clutch hitting and strong pitching. The Lions took control in key innings and held off late challenges to secure the sweep.
Missouri Southern (9-3) | Dury (2-7)
Game one: Missouri Southern 4 | Drury 3
Drury took an early lead with an RBI single, making it 1-0 in the second inning.
The Lions responded in the third inning when
Kylee Jacks reached first on a catcher's interference, allowing
Emma Mason to cross home plate.
Easton Walter then came through with a clutch single down the right field line, driving in three runs and giving Southern a 4-2 lead.
Drury added another run in the top of the fourth, cutting Southern's lead to 4-3.
Easton Walter had three RBIs and two hits, including a double.
Taylor Nuckolls contributed a run, a hit, and three assists at shortstop.
Kylee Jacks added an RBI and a run. The Lions had a total of four hits,
Kiki Pickens pitched three innings, striking out four while facing 16 batters.
Lauren Fuller followed in relief, delivering three scoreless innings and allowing three hits with no earned runs.
Kadence Janney closed out the game with a 1.2 shutout innings, surrendering no hits and striking out one.
Stats Tracker
Game 2: Missouri Southern 3 | Drury 2
The Panthers got on the board in the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead.
Southern responded in the bottom of the third when
Taylor Nuckolls delivered a clutch single to center field, driving in two runs to put the Lions ahead 2-1.
Easton Walter singled, and pinch runner
Lily Rand later came around to score on a
Bailey Dillon's triple to right field to extend the Lions lead to 3-1 in the fourth inning.
The Panthers fought back in the sixth, cutting their deficit to 3-2.
In the seventh, the Lions shut down the Panthers' final push.
NaTalia Sewell took the mound and retired all three batters in order, sealing the 3-2 victory
Taylor Nuckolls recorded two hits and driving in two runs.
Bailey Dillon also contributed with a triple, two hits, and an RBI. The Lions tallied five hits.
Avery Tallman pitched 4.0 innings, striking out three while facing 14 batters.
Kadence Janney pitch 2.0 innings, and
NaTalia Sewell closed with a perfect inning, facing three batters and striking out one.
Stats Tracker
Up Next:
The Lions will hit the road on Friday, February 28, for the Branson Showtime Tournament. They will face the Truman State Bulldogs at 3:00 PM, followed by a matchup against the Missouri S&T Miners at 5:30 PM.
-Lions-
