RAYMOND, Miss. – The Missouri Southern softball team played Mississippi College close all the way to end in an 8-7 loss on the grounds of Rene Warren Field at Hinds Community College Sunday afternoon.
Due to the rain pouring down on the campus of Mississippi College, MSSU’s first game against Drury was canceled with the second game versus the host MC Choctaws moved to another college nearby.
Southern (1-4) jumped out to a 2-0 lead after Lexi Ferrari recorded an RBI-double toward right center to score Angel Badalmenti from second following an RBI-single by Badalamenti that allowed Elizabeth Windsor to cross the plate all with two outs in the top of the first.
Junior Makaila Leonhart pushed the lead back to two, doubling to center field and score Caldarella for the lone run in the second. Then Windsor knocked one in on a ground ball to give the Lions a 4-2 advantage heading into the bottom half of the fourth inning.
The Choctaws (12-3) responded in their half by sending six runners cross the plate toward a 8-4 lead and hung on for the next three innings for the win.
Leonhart led the team with four hits (4-for-4), including a single up the middle that scored two runs to bring the Lions within one run in the fifth, capping out at three RBIs on the day. Caldarella recorded a 2-for-3 line at the plate to continue her hot hitting to begin the season.
On Deck
The Lions travel to compete in the annual Emporia State 5-State Softball Classic where they will play the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) on Friday, Feb. 22 at 2:00 pm to lead things off as part of six games in three days next weekend.
