Hudson notches first win of Lion career

Junior+Pitcher+Sarah+Williams+recieves+the+signal+from+the+catcher+on+April+2%2C+2014%2C+against+Lindenwood.+Williams+pitched+a+complete+game%2C+giving+up+one+earned+run+as+the+Lions+completed+the+double-header+sweep.

Beth Hammons | File Photo

Junior Pitcher Sarah Williams recieves the signal from the catcher on April 2, 2014, against Lindenwood. Williams pitched a complete game, giving up one earned run as the Lions completed the double-header sweep.

Missouri Southern’s softball team was back in action last week for four match-ups. The Lions (9-27, 4-10 MIAA) are coming off a four-game road trip that saw them go 1-3.

Before hitting the road for two more games, the Lions would suit up first against conference opponent Southwest Baptist in a doubleheader at Lea Kungle Field.

In game one, the Lions got off to a hot start, plating two runs in the bottom half of the first inning. SBU took the lead for the first time in the following inning as they plated three runs off Kali’ Hudson. In the top of the third, SBU scored one more run, giving them a 4-2 lead. The comeback was on for the Lions.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Lions regained the lead and did not look back. For the remainder of the game, the Lions held SBU to only two more hits, stranding four base runners. The Lions won game one 5-4.

“There’s potential there, we just got to get more of it,” said head coach Bill Gray. “We feel like we can compete with anybody.”

In the nightcap, the Lions would get shutout by a final score of 1-0. The Lions only had three hits and committed two errors. All three hits came from Alana Hester. The game’s only run came in the fourth from Brittanie Halquist, who sent a solo home run over the left-field fence.

Hester finished the day with two swiped bases for 17 on the season and 57 for her career. She now sits in third on Southern’s all-time list in stolen bases.

Lutz combined for 10 innings of work, allowing just the one run with an ERA of 0.70 and an opponent’s batting average of .094.

Southern hit the road for a doubleheader in the battle of the Lions against conference opponent Lindenwood.

In game one, the Southern Lions were shutout 4-0. The Lions could only muscle one hit, while they stranded six base runners.

In game two, Southern’s Lions would roar the loudest. The Lions scored five runs in the top of the second to put the game out of reach early. Though the Lions’ defense committed two errors, Southern pitching only gave up one run off three hits shutting. Myranda Stewart hit her second home run of the season in the seventh inning to add the exclamation mark. Southern got the victory, 6-1.

Michala Wood led Southern offensively, going 3-for-5 (.600) with a run scored, a double, and a slugging percentage of .800. Stewart had a slugging percentage of 1.00 with two extra base hits and the four RBIs. Hudson (1-11) got her first win of the season as she threw the complete game, allowing just the one earned run on three hits with four strikeouts in the seven innings.

The Lions will face conference foe Missouri Western State today for a pair of MIAA games at Lea Kungle Field at the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.