The Missouri Southern softball team rebounded last week after losing six games in a row.

Two of those games were losses to Drury on March 31 by scores of 6-3 and 10-2, but the Lions turned it around against MIAA bottom-feeder Southwest Baptist.

The Lions won both games against the Lady Bearcats by scores of 4-1 and 5-4 on April 3, improving the Lions record to 11-23-1 overall and 2-4 in the MIAA.

The Lions had excellent pitching from Whitney Clute in the 4-1 victory over Southwest Baptist. Clute only allowed three hits and had seven strikeouts in the win.

“Whitney did well for us,” Gray explained. “She threw well and kept us in the game until we got the runs on the board that we needed.”

Angie Turner helped spark that Lion offense as she went 3-3 combined for both games with a home run.

“Angie had a great game also,” said Gray. “She had a home run in the first game, and overall I thought we hit well and did what we needed to do.”

Southern continues action today as the Lions travel to Emporia State for a double header with the first place Hornets,  and then tomorrow Southern will travel to Washburn for another double header. 

“Those will be big games for us,” Gray explained. “We went up there earlier this year (Emporia) and they were hitting the ball well. They really are a good club and they’ll probably be on a roll. Hopefully we can head up there and upset them like we did last year.”

Emporia State is 28-7 and 6-0 in the MIAA.

Southern currently sits in ninth place, but still has a chance to get their season going with 22 games left in the season.

“There is still a chance to make the playoffs,” Gray said. “Once you get there you never know what could happen. We know our backs are against the wall, and we now have to be at the top of our game to get where we want to. I still believe we can do that.”

The Lions also took on rival Pittsburg State on Wednesday, splitting a doubleheader at home. Southern was shutout in the opener but put up five runs in the finale to win 5-4.