By Jim Henry

jhenry@joplinglobe.com

Missouri Southern will continue its “pitching by committee” philosophy today as the Lions open their MIAA softball schedule today at home against Washburn.

First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Gene Wild Field.

The Lady Blues (16-15, 2-0) swept Fort Hays State 5-0 and 5-4 in their league opener on March 16.

Missouri Southern (3-15) went 2-3 in last weekend’s Missouri Western Invitational, averaging 5.2 runs per game. The Lions had scored more than five runs in just three of their first 13 games.

“It was a great two days for our kids,” Lions head coach Aron Potter said. “Angie (Turner) and Megan Roark and J.T. (Julie Taylor) are hitting really well. They are our 3-4-5 hitters, and they have only struck out 12 times all season.

“The weekend before (scoring three runs in two losses at the Pittsburg State Invitational) was such a bad week weather-wise. We took a few days off after the weekend ... it was spring break, then we worked on a few things when we got back. I think we were hungry and ready to hit the ball.”

Turner, junior catcher, ranks third in the conference with a .455 batting average. Roark, freshman first baseman from Seneca, is the conference hitter of the week after hitting .647 last weekend and raising her season average 143 points to .327.

The Lions will rely on their offense while their top pitchers remain sidelined with injuries. Freshman Tara Kuykendall is still out, and senior Tamika Barnes, who did not pitch in last Saturday’s cold temperatures, is available.

“We’ll start Kelli Bax in the first game, Lauryn Berger in the second game and have Tamika in relief both games,” Potter said. “We’re trying to figure out our pitching rotation so we can get the best out of all of them.”

Today’s two games launch an eight-game homestand for the Lions. They also have league twinbills on Friday against Fort Hays State, nonleague games Monday against Southwest Baptist and league games on April 2 against Pittsburg State.

The conference schedule consists of one doubleheader against each team. The top eight teams qualify for the MIAA Postseason Tournament on May 1-3 in Shawnee, Kan.