Hastings, Neb. - The Missouri Southern Softball Lions completed the four-game "weekend" road sweep with a pair of extra inning wins over Nebraska-Kearney Friday afternoon at the Smith Softball Complex.
The Lions traveled to Hastings, Neb. after the Nebraska-Kearney softball field was determined to wet for play after having their weekend series moved from Friday and Saturday to Thursday at Fort Hays State and Friday against UNK.
In the first game, Southern (17-24, 6-6 MIAA) got things going in the first inning with a two-run home run from junior Myranda Stewart that scored senior Sarah Morrison who reached on a 3-2 walk.
Nebraska-Kearney (6-32, 3-9 MIAA) got one run back in the bottom of the second with a solo home run to left by Halle Gydesen. The Lions answered right back in the top of the third with a RBI ground out by Stewart that scored junior Abi Corbett. Corbett reached on an error by the Lopers' third baseman to lead off the inning.
The score stayed 3-1 in favor of Southern until the bottom of the seventh with a dropped fly ball in right led to a game tying home run from Molly Stern with two outs.
The Lions answered in the top of the extra frame that started with a walk to sophomore Ashley Caldarella. Following a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Angel Badalamenti that moved Caldarella to second, Caldarella was advanced to third by a wild pitch. A ground ball to the UNK second baseman by freshman Erika Lutgen gave Southern the 4-3 lead.
The home half of the eighth saw UNK threaten with runners on first and second and one out before a pitching change by Lions' head coach Melissa Chmielewski. Chmielewski brought in sophomore Taurean Guzman to relieve senior Sydney Koch and Guzman promptly got two ground ball outs to end the game.
Stewart accounted for three of the four Southern runs going 1-for-3 with three RBIs. Koch got the win going seven and a third innings allowing three runs, one earned, on seven hits with four strike outs. Guzman pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief for the save.
In the "night cap" it was UNK that got on the board first with a two-run home run in the home half of the second by Emilee Jonas.
Southern managed just two hits off the UNK starter, Sara Sempek, until the top of the sixth. The Lions threatened in the sixth with runners on the corners and two outs, after a pair of infield singles, but UNK got out of the jam with a fly ball to left off the bat of the MSSU pinch hitter, freshman Emily Harris.
In the seventh the Lions did a little more than just threaten as they plated a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly to center from junior Shelby Friend and Badalamenti scoring on a wild pitch to force the extra inning.
In the eighth, Morrison got things going with a one out single to center and stole second. Freshman Elizabeth Windsor moved Morrison to third on a single to right before both Lions scored on Stewart's second home run of the day to make the final 5-2.
Freshman Mikaela Cox got the start in the circle for the Lions going two innings allowing both runs, earned, on three hits. Guzman pitched six innings in relief to get the win and held the Lopers to nine hits with a strike out.
Southern will be back in action on Tuesday, April 4th as they host Southwest Baptist in a MIAA double header. First pitch from The Pat Lipira Softball Complex is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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