Warrensburg, Mo. –The Missouri Southern Softball team takes on the University of Central Missouri Jennies in a conference matchup. The Lions took an early lead in game one, and the Jennies evened it up. Both teams were in a deadlock until the 10th inning when Southern took control and the victory. In game two, Southern evened the score in the sixth inning and took the lead in the seventh. Central Missouri evened the score and won in the ninth, 6-5.
Missouri Southern (30-14, 10-6 MIAA) | Central Missouri (23-15, 10-8 MIAA)
Game one: Missouri Southern 3 | Central Missouri 1 – 10 innings
In the fifth inning, Missouri Southern broke the deadlock. After
Taylor Nuckolls reached base on an error and advanced to third on a wild pitch,
Kylee Jacks delivered a single up the middle to bring Nuckolls home, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead. The Jennies responded in the bottom half, scoring a run to tie the game at 1-1.
The game remained tied until the tenth inning.
Emma Mason doubled to lead off, and
Carsen Tinkler followed with another double, driving in Mason for the go-ahead run.
Taylor Nuckolls later singled, bringing in Tinkler to extend the lead. The two-run tenth inning gave Missouri Southern a 3-1 advantage and later the win.
Taylor Nuckolls stood out for Missouri Southern with two stolen bases and four assists, highlighting her defensive contribution.
Carsen Tinkler added a timely hit to bring in the lead run in the tenth.
Kylee Jacks added a double and an RBI. The Lions tallied eight hits.
Kiki Pickens pitched a complete game, going 10 innings with only one earned run allowed on eight hits. She recorded four strikeouts and faced 38 batters. Her performance contributed to her season record improving to 16-4.
Stats Tracker:
- Hits: Emma Mason (2), Taylor Nuckolls (2), Kylee Jacks (1), Katie Gray (1), Carsen Tinkler (1), Hannah Duin (1)
- RBIs: Kylee Jacks (1), Carsen Tinkler (1), Taylor Nuckolls (1)
- 2B: Katie Gray (1), Emma Mason (1), Carsen Tinkler (1)
- SH: Bailey Dillon (1), Easton Walter (1), Peyton Hawkins (1)
- SB: Taylor Nuckolls (2), Kylee Jacks (1)
- HBP: Cady Dickey (1)
- Pitching:
Game two: Missouri Southern 5 | Central Missouri 6 – 9 innings
Missouri Southern took an early lead in the second inning when
Emma Mason scored on another wild pitch, making it 1-0. Central Missouri responded in the bottom of the inning to even the score, 1-1
The fourth inning saw the Jennies pull ahead, taking a 4-1 lead.
The Lions answered in the sixth inning when
Katie Gray hit a two-run homer, bringing
Taylor Nuckolls home and narrowing the gap to 4-3.
Missouri Southern added another run in the seventh inning when
Katie Gray's sacrifice fly allowed
Kylee Jacks to score, making it 4-4.
In the ninth inning, the Lions regained the lead with
Bailey Dillon scoring on a sacrifice fly by
Taylor Nuckolls, putting them ahead 5-4. Central Missouri responded at the bottom to take the lead and the 6-5 win.
Katie Gray hit a home run and drove in three runs while drawing three walks.
Taylor Nuckolls contributed offensively and defensively, recording one hit, one RBI, and a stolen base while making two assists at shortstop. The Lions added five hits.
Kadence Janney pitched 5.0 innings, struck out nine batters, and faced 20.
NaTalia Sewell pitched 3.2 innings and struck out five batters strikeouts.
Lauren Fuller entered in the nine-inning, facing one batter.
Stats Tracker:
- Hits: Bailey Dillon (1), Kylee Jacks (1), Taylor Nuckolls (1), Katie Gray (1), Kate Thurman (1)
- RBIs: Katie Gray (3), Taylor Nuckolls (1)
- 2B: Kylee Jacks (1)
- HR: Katie Gray (1)
- SF: Taylor Nuckolls (1), Katie Gray (1)
- SB: Bailey Dillon (1), Taylor Nuckolls (1)
- Pitching:
- Kadence Janney: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 SO
- NaTalia Sewell (L, 0-2): 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO
- Lauren Fuller: 0.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB,
Up next:
The Lions will be on the road on Saturday, April 12, when they travel to take on the Rogers State University Hillcats. Game one is set for 2:00 PM.
The Missouri Southern softball season is presented by Arvest Bank, a proud supporter of Lion Athletics.
-Lions-
