Following a 1-3 opening weekend record, the Lions were back in action in the UAM 8 Classic in Bentonville, Ark.

First matchup for the Lions was against the University of Illinois at Springfield. The teams exchanged one run in the opening inning. UIS tallied three runs in the third inning on a three-run home run and followed with two more runs in the fourth inning. The Lions answered in the bottom half of the fourth with one run. The Lions scored two more runs in the final inning, but it wasn’t enough, because they fell 6-4.

Game two was a rematch against the Reddies, who beat the Lions 14-0 in the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational on Feb. 8. The Reddies put up three runs in back-to-back innings and the game ended in five innings, 8-0.

Michala Wood was the leader offensively for Southern as she went 4-for-6 (.667) at the plate with two RBIs and one home run. Abi Corbett finished the day 3-for-5 (.600) with a stolen base.

Quincy University drew first blood in game three, putting up three runs in the opening inning. Quincy scored eight runs in the first three innings. Southern trailed 8-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, where the Lions put up three runs and one more in the seventh. The Lions gave up a season-high 17 hits in the 9-5 loss, adding two more errors to their total.

The early season slump continued when the Lions lost their final game in the classic in the bottom of the seventh. The Lions trailed Rockhurst University 5-1 going into the top frame of the fifth inning. They put up one run in the fifth and sixth innings before scoring two in the top of the seventh to tie the game. In the seventh, Rockhurst walked the bases loaded before Wood singled in both Brooke Swadley and Myranda Stewart to make it 5-5. Kelsey Tepen of Rockhurst drew a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Tepen scored on the ensuing double by Lauren Cairo for the 6-5 walk-off victory.

Sarah Wiliams went three and a third innings for Southern, allowing five runs, two earned, on four hits. Lutz pitched three innings in relief and suffered the loss while giving up one run, one earned, on two hits with two strikeouts. Killer led the way offensively for Southern in game two, going 2-2 from the dish with one RBI and one run scored. Wood finished 2-3 with two RBI, a walk, and one run scored.

“There are things we saw over the weekend we need to work on,” said Wood. “We’re just going to focus on the next game and not look back. We are trying to prove ourselves this year. We want to be threat to other teams.”

The series with Drury set for Saturday and Sunday has been postponed due to weather.