From staff reports
BENTONVILLE, Ark. —
Missouri Southern won a pair of one-run softball games on Friday in the first day of the Seven State Classic.
The Lions topped Arkansas-Monticello 6-5 in eight innings before blanking Oklahoma Christian 1-0.
MSSU (5-1) continues play in Bentonville today against Illinois-Springfield at 10 a.m. and Rockhurst at noon.
Southern tied the opener against Arkansas-Monticello at 3 in the top of the sixth when Haley Pypes’ pinch-hit single to center scored Shelby Romines.
The Lions scored three times in the eighth inning — including a two-run single from Brooke Swadley — and then held on in the eighth when Monticello scored twice.
Michala Wood was 3-for-3 with two runs for the Lions. Sarah Williams pitched the final two innings to pick up the win.
Hannah Cooke pitched a shutout in the second game as the Lions blanked Oklahoma Christian.
Cooke allowed just three hits and struck out four to make the Lions’ lone run — a solo homer from Romines in the first inning — stand up.
Dawn Grass was 2-for-3 at the plate for the Lions against Oklahoma Christian.
