The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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April 18, 2012

Southwest Baptist sweeps Missouri Southern in softball

From staff reports

BOLIVAR, Mo. — With two swings, Autumn Lamle dampened Missouri Southern’s postseason softball hopes.

 Lamle’s home run in the fourth inning proved to be the difference as Southwest Baptist withstood a Missouri Southern rally in the seventh inning and nipped the Lions 4-3 Wednesday afternoon at the SBU Softball Field.

Lamle then belted a two-run shot to snap a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning of the nightcap, giving the Bearcats a 4-2 decision.

The losses dropped the Lions (15-32, 4-12 MIAA) into 10th place in the conference standings. The top eight teams qualify the conference postseason tournament later this month in Kansas City.

Missouri Southern concludes regular-season play this weekend with road games on Saturday afternoon at Washburn and Sunday afternoon at Fort Hays State.

Lamle’s homer to left-center field, her fifth of the season, gave the Bearcats (15-27, 6-12) a 4-1 lead in the first game.

The Lions made things interesting in the seventh as Brooklyn Farrell beat out an infield single, Brianna Fulkerson reached on a fielder’s choice and Breanna Volkmann singled to left to load the bases with nobody out.

Shelby Romines popped up to second base for the first out, but Brooke Hurley singled to center to score two runs, the second on an error by the catcher. The Lions had the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, but Jessica Colliver (8-16) retired Alysha Poteat on a foulout to third base and Lydia Niemegeers on a groundout.

Lions pitcher Haley Pypes (9-9) gave up eight hits and two earned runs, struck out seven batters and walked none.

The Bearcats collected half of their hits during a three-run third inning. The uprising started with two outs and was capped by Alexa Harvey’s two-run double.

The Lions got one run in the fourth when Niemegeers doubled to right-center and scored on Pypes’ single to right.

Volkmann went 3-for-4 to lead the Lions’ nine-hit attack, and Pypes had two hits.

Harvey’s two-run single gave the Bearcats a 2-0 lead after four innings in the nightcap, but the Lions pulled even in the fifth.

Brooke Swadley was on first base with two outs and scored when Farrell reached second on an outfield error. Fulkerson followed with a run-scoring single to center to tie the game.

Lions starter Hannah Cooke gave up two runs and four hits in five innings, walked none and struck out three. Kayce Moore entered in the sixth and gave up a one-out single to Harvey and two-out homer to right to Lamle.

Harvey (5-7) limited the Lions to four hits and zero earned runs, walked three and fanned five.

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