FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2007

Southern splits first two games at West Texas Tournament


Game One Box | Game Two Box

Amarillo, Texas. - The Missouri Southern softball team split a pair of games today at the West Texas A&M tournament, losing the opener to Eastern New Mexico, 6-0, but rebounding to defeat Southwestern Oklahoma 7-1 in the second game of the day.

Game one was a pitcher's duel for the first five innings. Southern's Tamika Barnes threw five and two thirds of an inning allowing just one earned run. Nhe Greyhounds' Nicole Dickson matched her pitch for pitch, going all seven, scattering four hits.

Kelli Bax entered in the sixth inning with one out and got the final two outs of the inning. The seventh was not so kind for the Lions as ENMU scored five unearned runs to break the game open.

Lindsay Bellm, Angie Turner, Barnes and Andrea Childs all had a hit.

Southern scored four runs in the first and three in the second en route to a 7-1 win over Southwestern Oklahoma in game two. Racheal Bowen and JT Taylor both had RBIs in the first for the Lions. Bowen drove in another run in the second, while Chasidy Austin and Taylor drove in runs, as well.

Bowen went 2-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Taylor was 2-3 with two RBIs, while Barnes scored twice.

The Lions will play again tomorrow, starting pool play against the host West Texas A&M Lady Buffaloes at 11 am. Depending on the outcome, Southern will either face Abilene Christian or Southeastern Oklahoma in the day's second game.