The Missouri Southern softball team traveled to Jefferson City, and St. Charles, for another MIAA faceoff against Lincoln University of Missouri and Lindenwood University. The Lion are 17-18 overall with an 8-10 record in conference.

At the start of the double header against the Blue Tigers, the Lions started off by scoring three runs in the first from a single by freshman Josie Tofpi and a two-run homerun by junior Erika Lutgen.

The Lions would enter the next inning scoring four more runs from a two RBI double by Tofpi, an RBI single by Lutgen, while senior Lexi Ferrari brought in a run. In the third, junior Makaila Leonhart hit a grand slam to earn four more runs.

The Blue Tigers would only score one in the fifth concluding the game 10-1. Senior Taurean Guzman limited the Tigers to only one run on two hits.          

In the second game of the double header against the Blue Tigers.  Guzman began the game by allowing the Blue Tigers to score one run in the first. In the second, Southern came out and earned a run from an RBI single by senior Angel Badalamenti.

The Blue Tigers would come back and score again in the third, but the Lions answered with an RBI double to right field from senior Ashley Caldarella.

Going scoreless throughout the rest of the game until the final inning, Leonhart hit a two-run homerun over the left fence and Badalamenti added another RBI single to finish the sweep with the final being 5-2.

In the first game Lindenwood, The Lions scored one in the first and three in the third with RBI doubles by junior Emily Harris and Ferrari as well as an RBI single by Caldarella. Lindenwood would go on to score two runs each in the fourth and fifth.

The Lions earned six runs in the fifth with RBI singles by Caldarella, Leonhart, and junior Elizabeth Windsor. Lindenwood would go on to score one last run in the final inning but wasn’t enough as Southern took the game 10-5.  Guzman pitched a little over five innings and allowed two runs and six hits. 

In game two against Lindenwood, Southern started the scoring as Lutgen hit a single. The game would be scoreless for the next two innings, but in the fourth two runs were score for the Lions by Lutgen hitting a double and red shirt freshman Rion Boyd scored off of a wild pitch. 

Lindenwood would score 4 runs for the rest of the game as Southern would fail to score a run resulting in final score 4-3 to bring Southerns its first loss in six games.

“Our last six games have gone very well for us. Our pitchers are throwing well, our hitters are hitting well, and our defense is playing well. We have constantly improved this entire year and will continue doing so over the next few weeks,” said Head Coach Hallie Blackney on the Lions performance the last six games.

The Lions will face Missouri Western State University at 2 p.m., Friday April 12 in a double header at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex. They will then turn around and play a double header beginning at noon, on Saturday, April 13, at home against Northwest Missouri State University.

“Missouri West is arguably the hottest team in our conference right now, so we look forward to the challenge of playing them on Friday,” Blackney said. “Both Missouri West and Northwest are very experienced teams with great coaches.

“There should be some great softball on our field throughout the rest of this month, as our last 10 games of the regular season are at home.”