(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)
Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Softball team swept their way into the fourth seed at the MIAA Post-Season Tournament Monday afternoon with a pair of wins over Northeastern State at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.
Senior Sydney Koch pitched a complete game shut out and allowed just two Northeastern State RiverHawks to reach base via a walk and an error. The Lions supported Koch with six runs, four earned, on ten hits. Southern got things started in the bottom of the first junior Shelby Friend singled home fellow junior Abi Corbett, who reached on a lead off infield single. The Lions added another run in the home half of the third with a RBI double from Friend that scored freshman Elizabeth Windsor to make it 2-0.
Southern added two more runs in the fifth on a two RBI single to left from junior Myranda Stewart and two more in the bottom of the sixth on a two RBI pinch hit double by freshman Emily Harris to make the score 6-0.
Koch struck out six RiverHawks while facing 22 batters.
In the "night cap" Southern struck first in the home half of the third on a RBI ground out from Stewart that scored Corbett, who reached on a throwing error by the RiverHawks third baseman. The Lions added another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Stewart to score senior Sarah Morrison to go up 2-0.
Northeastern State pushed across a run in the top of the sixth off a one out double to center by Haley Acrey, who then scored on a single to center by Kelsey Harmon to cut the Southern lead down to 2-1. That would be the closest the RiverHawks would get as Southern added a run in the bottom of the sixth when Harris scored on a RBI ground out by freshman Erika Lutgen for the 3-1 win.
Sophomore Taurean Guzman tossed the complete game allowing just the one run, earned, on seven hits with a walk while striking out eight RiverHawks.
Windsor led the way at the dish for Southern going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Sophomore Ashley Caldarella went 3-for-6 on the day, including going for 3-for-3 in game two. Corbett finished .429 (3-for-7) on the day with four runs scored and a double. Stewart led the Lions with four RBIs and Friend added two.
Southern finished the regular season one game under .500 (27-28) and MIAA play in a tie for fourth at 16-10. The Lions will be the fourth seed in the MIAA Post-Season Tournament this weekend at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex and will play the fifth seed, Missouri Western, in first round action Thursday at 5:30 p.m. on field two. Live stats will be available at mssulions.com.
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