The softball team started out the weekend strong as they traveled to Washburn University on April 5 to play a double header.

The Lions wasted no time, scoring three runs in the first inning. The first three runs came from a team effort with freshman Alana Hester getting on first and stealing second, hits from junior Shelby Romines, freshman Haley Kinnison, junior Brooklyn Farrell, freshman Micahla Wood and sophomore Kathryn Goins.

The Lions continued their offensive drive as they scored another run in the top of the third and five more in the top of the fourth. Once again, Hester got on first then stole second. Head Coach Bill Gray refers to Hester as an ignition switch, as she has stolen 22 so far this season.

“Alana Hester puts pressure on folks,” said Gray. “She can scoot a little bit.”

Romines earned the RBI as she hit a double, bringing Hester across home plate. Kinnison and Farrell earned RBIs as well, giving the Lions a 9-4 lead.

The Lions played solid defense, only allowing Washburn to score one more run the rest of the game. Freshmen pitchers Haley Pypes and Sarah Williams only allowed ten hits for the game.  The final score came to Missouri Southern 9, Washburn 5.

As for the second game of the double header, there was not a dominant leader. There was no score until the top of the fourth when the Lions scored four runs with a grand slam by Wood. Each team would continue to score every inning, until the top of the seventh when the Lions could not create offense.

Washburn scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to give them the 11-10 win over the Lions.

On April 6, the Lions traveled to Emporia State for another double-header, but could not come away with a win.

The Lions lost the first game of the day 10-0 in five innings, but turned things around in the second game.

The Lions were down 4-2 at the top of the fourth, but with RBIs from Swadley, Romines and Pypes; they scored five runs, but they couldn’t keep the lead. Emporia State would score four runs in the bottom of the fourth and another in the bottom of the sixth. The Lions fell to Emporia State 8-7.