Jefferson City, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Softball Lions continued their winning ways with a Good Friday sweep of host Lincoln University Friday afternoon at the LU Softball Field.
Southern (24-25, 13-7 MIAA) jumped on the Blue Tigers (5-37, 2-16 MIAA) early in game one with a pair of runs in the opening frame on a RBI single from junior Myranda Stewart that score fellow junior Abi Corbett and a sacrifice fly from junior Shelby Friend that scored freshman Elizabeth Windsor.
Lincoln tied the game in the home half of the second with a RBI double to right center by Paige Parker and Sarah Westhoff scored on a wild pitch to account for all of the Blue Tigers runs for the day.
The game stayed tied at 2-2 until the top of the fifth when Southern exploded for five runs on five hits highlighted by a two run home run from freshman Erika Lutgen to make it 7-2. The Lions tacked on two more runs in the sixth on a two RBI single down the left field line from Stewart that scored Corbett and senior Sarah Morrison and giving Southern a 9-2 lead.
In the seventh, the Lions added another two runs on a RBI infield single by Corbett that scored sophomore Angel Badalamenti and another Stewart RBI hit, this one a single to center that scored Morrison for the 11-2 win.
In all, Southern tallied 11 runs on 15 hits while taking advantage of two Lincoln errors in the opening game of the double header.
Senior Sydney Koch (10-8) got the start and the win for Southern going four innings allowing the two runs, both earned, on eight hits with two walks and two strike outs. Sophomore Taurean Guzman pitched three scoreless innings in relief holding the Blue Tigers to just one hit while walking one and striking out two.
Madison Ragar (3-15) suffered the loss for Lincoln going five innings allowing nine runs, eight earned, on 12 hits with a pair of walks and strike outs. Westhoff pitched two innings in relief allowing two runs, both earned, on three hits.
Game two of the double header started off with what seemed like deja vu with Southern scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first with a RBI single through the left side of the Lincoln infield by Stewart that scored Corbett and a RBI ground out from Lutgen that scored Stewart for the early 2-0 lead.
The Lions added another run in the second on a bunt single by Corbett that scored sophomore Kylie Wesbrooks for a 3-0 lead. Another two runs crossed the plate in the third when Friend scored on a wild pitch and Wesbrooks doubled home Lutgen to make it 5-0.
In the bottom of the third Lincoln threatened with back-to-back singles to lead off the inning followed by a walk to load the bases with no outs. Guzman buckled down inside the circle and got Kiley Kerr to line out to Lutgen who turned an unassisted double play. With runners on second and third and two outs Guzman induced a ground ball to Wesbrooks to get out of the inning with no damage done.
The top of the fourth saw four more runs cross the plate for The Green & Gold by way of a single down the left field line from Stewart, a triple to right center by Friend, and a ground out by Lutgen to make it 9-0. The Blue Tigers once again threatened in the home half of the inning with three straight singles to lead off the inning, but one again Guzman buckled down and got out of the inning with a fielder's choice and another double play.
Both teams went three up, three down in the fifth to secure the 9-0 run rule victory for Southern.
Guzman improved to 10-10 on the season with the game two win shutting out the Blue Tigers while holding them to five hits with a walk and a strike out. Macie Kinsey suffered the loss for Lincoln going three innings and allowing all nine runs, seven earned, on nine hits with a pair of walks. Westhoff pitched two shut out innings in relief while facing just six Lions.
On the day, Stewart led the offensive attack going 6-for-8 (.750) with three runs scored and seven RBIs. Corbett finished 6-for-9 (.667) with four runs scored and a pair of RBIs while Friend and Lutgen each tallied four RBIs for Southern. Badalamenti had a pair of doubles while Lutgen tacked on a double and a home run to lead the Lions in extra base hits with two each. Wesbrooks added a double while Friend connected for the triple to account for all six Southern extra base hits.
Southern will be back in action tomorrow as they travel to St. Charles, Mo. to take on the Lindenwood University Lions. First pitch from the Lou Brock Sports Complex is scheduled for noon.
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