FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mar. 30, 2009

Lions open up MIAA play and split with Northwest Missouri

Game One Box | Game Two Box

Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern softball team opened up MIAA play today with a double-header split against Northwest Missouri, dropping the opener 5-0, but rebounding for an 8-4 win in the nightcap.

Southern (9-22, 1-1 MIAA) could get just two hits in game one of the twin bill as Northwest (10-22, 1-1 MIAA) starter Kola Krueger went the distance, striking out nine. Brooke Hurley and Natalie Nelson had a hit each for the Lions.

In game two, Southern fell behind 3-0 after the Bearcats scored two runs in the first and another run in the second, but the Lions rebounded with three runs in the bottom of the second to tie the score at three apiece.

Megan Roark singled to start the inning and Hurley walked on four straight pitches to put runners at first and second. Kelli Bax then doubled to left center scoring Roark and moving Hurley to third. The Lions then converted on two consecutive squeeze bunts, the first by Nelson and the second by Randi Russell to tie the game at three.

Nelson singled home Roark in the third to put the Lions ahead 4-3, but Northwest tied the game with a run in the top of the fourth. The bottom half of the inning would prove to be big for Southern as the Lions scored three to push ahead 7-4. The Lions added an unearned run before Hurley doubled home two more. Southern added a single run in the sixth on an RBI single from Roark, scoring Kiley Siebenaler.

Roark went 3-4 with an RBI and three runs scored in the game, while Hurley and Nelson drove in two each. Hurley had two hits and a run scored. Tara Kuykendall went the distance, allowing just four runs, while striking out three to get her third win of the season.

The Lions will be back in action this Wednesday (April 1) as Southern plays host to Drury in a double-header slated to begin at 4 pm.