With only two more games left in the MIAA conference, the Lions faced two close games against University of Missouri-Rolla.

On April 19, Missouri Southern’s softball team faced off in a double-header against UMR at home.

The first game started around 4 p.m. and had 107 people in attendance.

The game was neck-to-neck all the way as the two teams faced off at a score of 0-0 until the seventh inning when the UMR Lady Miners put a run on the scoreboard when one of their players homered to center field.

UMR won the game with a score of 1-0.

There was a total of four hits against the Lion’s pitcher, Amy Schneider, junior, and a total of one hit against UMR’s pitcher Candice Wilburn.

“The first game was really a pitcher’s duel,” said head softball coach Jennifer Jimerson.

The second game started around 5:30 p.m. and the attendance grew to 135 people.

This time the game started out in the Lion’s favor as the first inning brought two runs for Southern.

The Lions won with a score of 3-2.

The game started as Trish Masters, junior center fielder, singled the ball up the middle.

She was able to score as Alese Woolard, senior shortstop, followed suit and singled it up the middle as well.

Woolard scored the second run right before J.T. Taylor, freshman left fielder and second baseman, grounded for the third out.

UMR made its only run during the third inning.

Southern’s third run came after Taylor had singled to second base, which allowed Jamie Blalock, freshman second baseman, to head to homebase.

The Miners had four hits, but as the Lions played defense, UMR was only able to score one run.

“The second game was a great defensive game,” Jimerson said, “It was a nail-biter.”

Southern also played on April 16 and April 17 in the Pittsburg State Classic.

They lost four games out of the five they played.

On April 15, they competed against Southwest Baptist University and lost with a score of 7-5.

The Lions lost the next game against Pittsburg State University, 3-0.

The final game on April 15 was against Northwest Oklahoma State University.

The Lions lost with a score of 5-2.

On April 16, Southern played against Oklahoma City University and lost with a score of 7-2.

The last game the Lions played was the only game they won.

They finished with a score of 2-1 against the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.

The next game Southern will play will be at 4 p.m. on Friday against Missouri Western State University.

They will also play at noon Saturday against Northwest Missouri State University.

These will be the last MIAA conference games for the Lion’s season.

“If we at least split this weekend, we feel like we are in control of our own destiny,” Jimerson said, “We need to come away with a split on both days.”

They will also play at 3 p.m. on Thursday April 28, against University of South Illinois-Edwardsville before the MIAA Postseason Tournament begins.

All of the last three games will be away. Southern currently stands 7-7 for conference and 22-27 overall.