BENTONVILLE, Ark. — No. 24-ranked Missouri Southern softball swept the second day of the Alvy Early Memorial Classic Saturday at Memorial Park. The Lions downed Arkansas Tech, 7-1, before overcoming Southwest Baptist, 8-6, in the afternoon matchup.
MSSU concludes the Classic Sunday with contests against Texas Woman's and William Jewell. Game times are set for 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., CT at Memorial Park fields 1 and 2.
With two home runs on the day,
Katie Gray tied for first all-time in MSSU program history with 28 career home runs (Dawn Grass, 28 in 2010-14). She will take sole possession of first with one more homer.
Gray also became Missouri Southern's all-time RBI career leader with 138 surpassing Diane Miller's 134 record in 1989-92.
No. 24 MSSU 7, Arkansas Tech 1
MSSU defeated Arkansas Tech 7-1 in a neutral-site contest on Saturday.
The game featured two triples and two home runs from the Lions., who accumulated nine hits while allowing only five from Arkansas Tech.
Southern jumped to an early lead in the first inning with
Bailey Dillon's solo home run to right field. Following her,
Taylor Nuckolls singled, advanced to third on an error, and stole home, scoring an unearned run.
Katie Gray walked but was caught stealing, and
Gianna Saggese tripled before
Grace McNulty brought her home with a single, making it 3–0. Arkansas Tech did not score in their half, leaving the Lions leading 3–0 after the first inning.
In the second inning,
Maddie Rolfs tripled and was driven in by
Emma Mason's sacrifice groundout, extending the MSSU lead. ATU again failed to score, putting Missouri Southern ahead 4–0 after two innings.
The momentum continued in the third inning as Nuckolls singled and was driven home by Gray's two-run homer. Arkansas Tech remained scoreless, and Southern led 6–0 after three innings.
The fourth inning saw the Golden Suns score their only run after Aly White doubled and eventually reached home on a single by Sharlee Jackson. MSSU maintained a 6–1 lead after four innings.
In the fifth, Dillon walked and stole second before scoring on a single by Nuckolls. Arkansas Tech was unable to capitalize on a couple of hits, leaving the score at 7–1 in favor of the Lions after five innings.
Neither team scored in the sixth and seventh innings, with solid pitching and fielding on both sides. MSSU secured a 7–1 victory over ATU, with strong performances at the plate and on the mound.
Dillon scored two runs and hit a home run, finishing with one RBI and a walk. Nuckolls collected three hits, scored twice, and stole two bases. Gray drove in two runs with a home run, adding a walk and a run scored.
Emily Davis pitched four innings, allowing no earned runs (one run) on two hits and striking out three batters. She faced 15 batters, inducing seven flyouts and two groundouts.
Kiki Pickens followed with three innings of relief, conceding three hits and recording three strikeouts, maintaining a clean sheet with no runs allowed and a WHIP of 1.00.
No. 24 MSSU 8, Southwest Baptist 6
MSSU secured an 8-6 victory over Southwest Baptist in a neutral-site contest on Saturday. The Lions tallied 10 hits, including two home runs, and successfully stole nine bases to clinch the win.
Missouri Southern opened the scoring in the first inning with a commanding start.
Bailey Dillon singled and stole two bases, setting the stage for
Katie Gray, who delivered a three-run homer to center field, bringing Dillon and
Taylor Nuckolls home.
Carsen Tinkler and
Gianna Saggese both walked, and a fielder's choice by
Maddie Rolfs allowed another run, putting MSSU ahead 4–0 after the first inning.
Southwest Baptist responded in the second inning with a two-run homer by Shalie Wooden, narrowing the gap to 4–2. MSSU was held scoreless in the bottom of the inning.
In the third inning, the Lions extended their lead again. Tinkler singled and was replaced by pinch runner
Micah Snider, who advanced to third on a groundout and then scored on a single by
Grace McNulty, pushing the lead to 5–2.
Southwest Baptist surged in the fourth inning, scoring three runs, including an unearned run on an error, to tie the game at 5–5. MSSU failed to capitalize in its half of the inning.
The fifth inning saw Missouri Southern reclaim the lead with a homer from Saggese.
Easton Walter doubled, scoring
Emily Perry, and
Emma Mason added another RBI double, allowing MSSU to regain an 8–6 advantage.
In the sixth inning,
Kiki Pickens struck out the side, preserving the two-run Lions' lead. Gray singled in the bottom of the inning, but no runs were scored.
Southwest Baptist made one more attempt in the seventh, but Pickens secured the win by recording a groundout and a strikeout to end the game as MSSU emerged victorious with an 8–6 win.
Gray led the offensive charge by hitting a home run, driving in three runs, and recording two hits. Saggese contributed with a home run, adding a run and an RBI to her performance. Nuckolls displayed versatility with a double, a walk, a hit, and a stolen base, crossing the plate once. Dillon showcased speed on the base paths with two stolen bases while scoring a run.
Kadence Janney started for Missouri Southern, pitching four innings and giving up nine hits and four earned runs. Janney struck out four batters and walked two, managing to record five flyouts and three groundouts.
Pickens relieved Janney and pitched three innings, allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out five. Pickens exhibited control with no walks and maintained a WHIP of 0.67.
