With the crack of the bat and the excitement of the crowds in the air, Missouri Southern swept up Southwest Baptist University in a double-header.

On March 8, the first game for the teams started at 3 p.m. in a game which was neck-to-neck most of the way.

In game one, the Lions would not score until the fourth inning when Mary Barrow, senior catcher, would send the ball out to left field for a home run.

However, this would be the first hit for the game.

The Bearcats would not make a run until the seventh inning when they tied the game 1-1.

The second run came for the Lions in the eighth inning.

Shari Gates, sophomore third baseman, singled one up the middle and J.T. Taylor, freshman right fielder, was able to make it home.

“I was proud of our girls coming back in the eighth inning,” said Jennifer Jimerson, head softball coach.

The first game would end with the Lions winning 2-1.

Taylor began the hitting in the second inning as she singled to right center for the second game.

Two other hits would come from Gates and Katy Owsley, junior pitcher and designated player, however, none of the athletes made it home.

The Bearcats were able to send two players home in the fourth inning.

The Lions would quickly rally back to the challenge.

In the bottom of the fourth, Southern knocked off four hits and three runs.

Taylor singled it up the middle for the first hit and later ran for the first score.

Owsley was the second to score after Erin Gfeller, sophomore left fielder, singled it up the middle.

Gfeller made the third run, unearned.

In the fifth inning, the Lion’s Alese Woolard, senior shortstop, and Taylor scored two more runs and the team played defense to keep the Bearcats from scoring for the last two innings.

“[Woolard] has definitely been a leader on offense and defense,” Jimerson said. “We’re expecting great things out of her.”

The game ended with a victory for the Lions as they completed it with a run count of 5-2.

On March 5 and 6, the Lions also competed in the Missouri Western Tournament in St. Joseph.

Southern won their first game against Washburn State University, 7-2.

However, in the next four games they did not fair as well.

In the second game against Missouri Western State University, the Lions and the Griffons went head-to-head into the ninth inning.

However, MWSU would win it 6-7.

The Lions will play Friday and Saturday when they host the Teri (Mathis) Zenner Memorial Classic.

Ten teams will participate in the two-day event, which will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday.

Southern will have its first game on Friday at 11 a.m. against University of Missouri- Rolla.

The tournament will conclude with the championship and consolation games scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday in the Kungle and Wild softball fields.

“Our chemistry is really good,” Jimerson said. “They really enjoy playing together.”