March 7 opened up MIAA conference action for the Missouri Southern softball team. The Lions split Southwest Baptist University in a double-header in Bolivar.

Game 1 went to the Lions with a final score of 3-2.

Angie Turner, freshman catcher, scored the first Lions’ run in the fourth after a double by Racheal Bowen, junior first baseman.

Bowen scored on an SBU error in the same inning.

SBU tied the game in the bottom of the fourth.

Sophomore second baseman J.T. Taylor hit a home run over the center field fence in the sixth to give the Lions the lead and the win.

Lacee Craig, freshman pitcher, earned the win, pitching the full game. Craig gave up three hits and walked two in the game, but struck five batters out.

She is now 4-0 on the year.

The Lions lost Game 2 by a score of 6-2.

The Lady Bearcats scored six runs on Southern in the fourth.

The Lions’s Andrea Childs, freshman shortstop, was brought in by Kate Brittan, sophomore outfielder, and Amanda Mitchell, freshman utility player, scored off an RBI fielder’s choice by Taylor.

Senior Amy Schneider was credited with the loss, bringing her to 1-1 this season. Schneider pitched 3-1/3 innings, giving up five earned runs, one unearned run and one strikeout.

The Lions are now 6-2 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA. They played Northeastern (Okla.) State University March 9. Results of this game were unavailable at the time of press.

The Lion’s host the Teri (Mathis) Zenner Memorial Classic Friday and Saturday.

Southern plays at noon Friday and again at 6 p.m. Saturday, they play at 8 a.m.

Bracket play for the tournament begins at noon Saturday.