JOPLIN, Mo. — No. 4-ranked Missouri Southern softball (22-3) swept a Friday doubleheader against St. Cloud State (18-5) at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex, using timely hitting and strong pitching performances to claim 3-1 and 4-1 victories.
The Lions relied on extra-base hits and solid pitching in the opener before using a big first inning to secure the second game and complete the sweep.
Game 1 – Missouri Southern 3, St. Cloud State 1
St. Cloud State struck first in the third inning when Collins scored on a single by Holmes. The run was unearned following a Missouri Southern error.
The Lions responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning. Emma Mason doubled and later scored on an RBI double by Taylor Nuckolls. Nuckolls then came home on a Katie Gray single to give Southern a 2-1 lead after three innings.
Missouri Southern added an insurance run in the fifth inning. Bailey Dillon was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on Nuckolls' second RBI double of the game to push the lead to 3-1.
Taylor Nuckolls paced the offense with two doubles and two RBIs. Gray added a hit and RBI, while Mason finished with a double and a run scored.
Kiki Pickens earned the win in the circle, tossing 6.1 innings while allowing no earned runs and striking out two without issuing a walk. Kadence Janney recorded the final two outs to earn the save.
Game 2 – Missouri Southern 4, St. Cloud State 1
The Lions wasted no time in the second game, scoring all four of their runs in the opening inning.
Bailey Dillon led off with a single and advanced to second on an error. After another error allowed Taylor Nuckolls to reach, Emily Perry delivered an RBI double to score the first run. Carsen Tinkler then broke the game open with a three-run home run, bringing in Grace McNulty and Katie Gray to give Southern a 4-0 advantage.
St. Cloud State scored its lone run in the fifth inning when B. Holmes doubled and later scored on an RBI double by S. Roe, but Missouri Southern held the Huskies scoreless the rest of the way.
Tinkler led the offense with a three-run homer and three RBIs, while Perry added a double and RBI. Dillon finished with two hits and a stolen base.
Emily Davis picked up the win after pitching 4.2 innings, allowing one earned run while striking out six. Janney again closed the game with 2.1 innings of relief to earn her fourth save of the season.
MSSU wraps the Teri Mathis-Zenner MIAA/NSIC Crossover Tournament Saturday with a doubleheader against University of Sioux Falls (S.D.). First pitch is noon, CT at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.
