FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2009

Lions split a pair of one-run games at Pittsburg State
Game One Box | Game Two Box

Pittsburg, Kan. - The Missouri Southern softball team split a pair of one-run games tonight in MIAA action at Pittsburg State, winning the opener 7-6, but dropping the nightcap 3-2.

Southern (15-30, 5-7 MIAA) got on board with four quick runs in the first inning, all with two outs. Andrea Childs led off the game with a walk and advanced to third on a double from Trish Washburn. After a pop out, Megan Roark singled to left center to score both runners. Brooke Hurley then took the first pitch she saw and hit her fifth homer of the year down the left field line.

PSU ( 27-18, 7-5 MIAA) answered right back with five runs in the bottom of the second inning.

The Lions scored two more in the fourth on a Lauren Hasty two-run homer that scored Hurley. After a run from Pitt tied it in the sixth, Southern scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single from Annie Sewell that scored Childs. Childs had tripled down the right field line.

Tara Kuykendall went the distance for her sixth win of the season, scattering eight hits and allowing just two earned runs. Hurley and Hasty both had two run homers in the game. Childs and Hurley scored twice.

In game two, Southern fell behind after the Gorillas scored twice in the bottom of the first.

Runs in the second and the third tied the game at two. Lauryn Berger executed a squeeze bunt, scoring Kelli Bax for the Lions' first run in the second, while Whitney Clute singled home Breanna Volkmann who had doubled to start the third.

Southern had a chance to go ahead in the fifth, but stranded two runners and Pitt would make the Lions pay, scoring the go-ahead run in the bottom half of the inning.

Clute went 2-4 in the game with an RBI. She threw all six innings, scattering eight hits and allowing just two earned runs, while throwing just 61 pitches. Volkmann had a hit and scored once, while Bax scored the Lions' other run.

Southern will be back in action tomorrow when the Lions play host to Northeastern State at 4 pm. The double-header will be the Lions' Strikeout Cancer Night. In a collaborative effort with the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, Southern will be wearing pink uniform tops, the bases will be painted pink and the Lions will be taking donations all night to help benefit breast cancer research.