JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Southern softball program began the season splitting a double header against Northern State tonight at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.
In game one the Lions were led by freshman outfielder Yazmin Vargas and utility player Kara Amos.
Leighton Withers got Southern scoring started as she hit a two-run home run over the right field fence to keep the Lions in striking distance after the Wolves had plated three in the first inning.
Vargas led off with a single and later scored off a Josie Tofpi single up the middle to begin the five run third inning that was capped off by an Ashlynn Williams home run over the left field fence to claim the lead 7-5 after three played.
The scoring was not over for the Lions as they added two more in the fourth for assurance. Adrianna Young singled on the first pitch and made it to second off a throwing error by the pitcher, Vargas hit a single and moved up to second on the throw, while Young moved over to third. Makila Leonhart’s sacrifice fly scored Young and an RBI single by Tofpi capped off the inning scoring Vargas.
Amos picked up her first win of the season after entering the game in the fourth to pitch. She halted the Wolves’ offense that was off to a fast start and finished with five strikeouts in four innings of work.
Game Two the Lions pushed a run across in the second inning as Withers got on base after being hit by a pitch. A Willimas’ sacrifice bunt moved Withers over to second where she would later advance to third off a wild pitch. Withers scored on another wild pitch.
The Lions turned to senior Abby Atkin in the rubber match, as she went the distance but picked up her first loss of the season.
