Wichita, Kan. – The Missouri Southern Softball team traveled to take on the Newman University Jets in the conference opener. Southern secured two wins over Newman. In game one the Lions controlled the game and held the Jets scoreless. Southern pushed two four-run innings for the 9-1 victory.
Missouri Southern (14-8, 2-0 MIAA) | Newman (4-18, 0-2 MIAA)
Game one: Missouri Southern 5 | Newman 0
Missouri Southern opened the game by capitalizing in the first inning.
Bailey Dillon walked to start the inning and stole second base, later advancing to third on a sacrifice groundout by
Kylee Jacks.
Katie Gray brought Dillon home with a single to right field, giving the Lions an early 1-0 lead.
Peyton Hawkins created momentum in the second inning by walking and stealing both second and third base.
Maddie Rolfs then grounded out to first and drove in Hawkins to extend the lead to 2-0.
Southern further increased their lead in the third inning after
Hannah Duin walked and was replaced by pinch runner
Ashlyn Hulett. Hulett stole both second and third base and scored on an error by the catcher, making it 3-0.
The Lions added two more runs in the fourth inning;
Bailey Dillon singled and advanced to third on a wild pitch and a stolen base.
Kylee Jacks walked and stole second.
Katie Gray's groundout brought home Dillon, and
Ashlyn Hulett reached in an error and scored Jacks, pushing the lead to 5-0. The Lions maintained this lead for the remainder of the game, securing a 5-0 victory over Newman.
Bailey Dillon went 2-for-3 with two runs, one walk, and three stolen bases while playing second base.
Katie Gray went 1-for-4 with a hit and two RBIs.
Ashlyn Hulett had one RBI and stole three bases. The Lions added seven hits.
Kiki Pickens pitched 5.0 innings, allowing no earned runs and only two hits while striking out six batters and walking one, facing 19 batters.
Lily Rand contributed 2.0 innings of relief, facing six batters without allowing a hit or a walk and recording one strikeout.
Stats Tracker:
- Hits: Bailey Dillon (3), Carsen Tinkler (2), Kylee Jacks (1), Katie Gray (1), Ashlyn Hulett (1), Easton Walter (1), Peyton Hawkins (1)
- RBI: Easton Walter (3), Katie Gray (2), Maddie Rolfs (2), Bailey Dillon (1), Ashlyn Hulett (1)
- SH: Kylee Jacks (1)
- SB: Bailey Dillon (3); Kylee Jacks (1); Ashlyn Hulett (3); Peyton Hawkins (2)
- HBP: Hannah Duin (1)
- Pitching
Game Two: Missouri Southern 9 | Newman 1
In the second inning, Missouri Southern launched a strong offensive attack, putting up four runs.
Emily Perry started the inning with a single and advanced to second with a stolen base.
Peyton Hawkins walked, and
Carsen Tinkler's double to center field brought Perry home. A passed ball allowed Hawkins to score, and Tinkler later scored on
Bailey Dillon's single, giving the Lions a 4-0 lead.
The fourth inning saw another burst of scoring for the Lions.
Carsen Tinkler and
Kate Thurman reached base, setting up
Bailey Dillon's double to center field, bringing in two runs.
Katie Gray capped off the inning with a two-run homer, extending the lead to 8-0.
In the fifth inning, Newman scored its only run of the game, making the score 8-1.
The Lions added one more run in the seventh inning.
Emma Mason reached on an error and was driven home by
Carsen Tinkler's single, making the final score 9-1.
Bailey Dillon led the Lions with three RBIs and two hits, including a double and a stolen base.
Carsen Tinkler added three hits, two RBIs on two doubles, and a walk.
Katie Gray also made a significant impact with a home run, adding two RBIs and scoring one run. The Lions added 10 hits.
Avery Tallman pitched a complete game, allowing only four hits, and struck out five batters, facing 25 batters in total.
Stats Tracker
- Hits: Carsen Tinkler (3), Bailey Dillon (2), Kylee Jacks (1), Katie Gray (1), Emily Perry (1), Kate Thurman (1), Maddie Rolfs (1)
- RBIs: Bailey Dillon (3), Katie Gray (2), Carsen Tinkler (2), Kylee Jacks (1),
- 2B: Bailey Dillon (1), Carsen Tinkler (2)
- HR: Katie Gray (1)
- SH: Maddie Rolfs (1)
- SF: Kylee Jacks (1)
- SB: Bailey Dillon (1), Kylee Jacks (3), Emily Perry (1), Maddie Rolfs (1)
- HBP: Maddie Rolfs (1)
- Pitching:
Up Next:
The Lions will be on the road on Sunday, March 9, when they take on the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos. First pitch is set for 2:00 pm.
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