Wednesday, March 22, 2017

MSSU softball drops doubleheader to Central Missouri

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Softball team dropped their MIAA home openers to Central Missouri, 6-4 and 9-5, Wednesday afternoon at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.

Game One
Southern took the lead early in the opening game with a RBI sacrifice bunt from junior Shelby Friend that scored fellow junior Abi Corbett for the 1-0 lead. Central Missouri tied the game in the top half of the second on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher that scored the Jennies' runner from third.

The Lions retook the lead in the bottom of the third off a triple down the right field line from sophomore Ashley Caldarella that scored Corbett and sophomore Angel Badalamenti singled home Caldarella to make it 3-1. The score remained 3-1 until the top of the sixth when Central Missouri scored five runs on four hits and two Missouri Southern errors for the 6-3 lead.

The Lions rallied in the bottom of the sixth that started with a four pitch walk to Badalamenti followed by a single up the middle from Friend. Freshman Erika Lutgen sacrificed the runners to second and third. Junior Myranda Stewart grounded out to second and scored Badalamenti to make the final score of 6-4.

Game Two
The Lions struck early in the night cap with three runs in the bottom of the opening frame on a single to right by Lutgen that scored Corbett and a two RBI single down the left field line by Stewart that scored both Friend and Caldarella.

UCM scored a run in the second, third, and fourth to tie the game at 3-3 before Southern broke the tie in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Badalamenti that scored Corbett. Central Missouri scored three runs in the sixth and seventh for the 9-5 win.

On The Day
Both Corbett and Badalamenti finished the day hitting .500, Corbett finished 4-for-8 while Badalamenti went 2-for-4. Stewart led the team with three RBIs while Friend and Badalamenti each had two RBIs.

Sophomore Taurean Guzman led the Lions with a 0.00 ERA allowing three runs, all unearned, on seven hits in five and a third innings for work. Senior Sydney Koch went five and two-thirds innings in game one allowing six runs, two earned, on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Up Next
Southern will be back in action on Friday, weather permitting, against Pittsburg State in a conference double header at Pat Lipira Softball Complex. First pitched is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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