FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2009

Lions split final regular season double-header with UNO

Game One Box | Game Two Box

Joplin, Mo. - Natalie Nelson's bases-loaded grounder to short in the bottom of the eighth scored Kiley Siebenaler and the Missouri Southern softball team split a double-header with visiting Nebraska-Omaha today, winning 3-2, but dropping the finale 1-0.

Southern (21-34, 9-11MIAA) got on top with two runs in the first. Andrea Childs started the game with a single up the middle and Kelli Bax walked to put runners at first and second. Whitney Clute grounded out to the right side, but moved the runners up and Megan Roark singled to the left side, scoring Childs. Trish Washburn then hit a double over the right fielder's head to score Bax.

The Mavericks (40-13, 14-6 MIAA) scored a run in the second and a run in the fourth to tie it before the Lions pushed ahead in the eighth.

Southern threatened with bases loaded in the seventh, but couldn't push across the winning run. In the eighth, Washburn reached on an error to start the inning, and was pinch ran for by Siebenaler. Brook Hurley singled up the middle putting two runners on and both runners moved over on a ground out. Lauryn Berger was intentionally walked to load the bases and Nelson's grounder scored the game-winner.

Seven different Lions had a hit each with Childs, Bax and Siebenaler scoring the Lions' runs. Roark and Washburn had the RBIs. Tara Kuykendall started and went five innings, scattering five hits and allowing just one earned run. Whitney Clute threw three innings of hitless relief to get the win.

The Mavs scored a run in the second of game two, and the Lions left seven runners on base in the pitchers duel. Kelsey Williams started for southern and went four innings, allowing one earned run, while striking out three and walking just one. Vanessa Elmore pitched the final three innings, shutting out the Mavs and striking out three.

Kelli Bax had two hits in the game, while five others had a hit each.

The Lions finish the MIAA regular season in 7th place and will now face off with Missouri Western, the No. 2 seed in the first round of the 2009 MIAA Softball Tournament this Thursday in Overland Park, Kan. Game-time is 6 pm.