JOPLIN, Mo. – McKendree University softball opened the first day of the Lions Classic held here at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex by suffering back-to-back losses to tournament host, Missouri Southern.
 
The Bearcats (4-8) opened the day with a 4-2 loss in the opener, before suffering a 10-2 run-ruled five inning setback in the second game to the Lions, who improved to 9-7 with the two wins.
 
In the opener, neither score would score in the first three innings until the Bearcats broke open the scoreless game in the top of the fourth thanks to three singles and a bunt with the first run coming home on an RBI single off the bat of junior second baseman Kelsey Sachs (Troy, Mo./Troy Buchanan). Sachs' single scored graduate student first baseman Paige Hayden (Independence, Mo./Fort Osage), who led off the inning with a single off MSSU pitcher Kara Amos. Prior to Hayden's hit, the Bearcats were held hitless.
 
The Lions tied the game in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a lead-off triple from Josie Topfi and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Leighton Withers off sophomore pitcher Ellie Quaethem (Washington, Mo./Washington).
 
MSSU added two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a 2-run pinch hit homer from Abby DeSanto to take a 3-1 lead.
 
Sachs brought the Bearcats within a run at 3-2 following her RBI double in the top of the sixth, which scored freshman Brianna Sarver (Pana, Ill./Pana), who was pinch running for freshman designated player Sydney Bires (Carlinville, Ill./Gillespie), who reached on a one-out single to right. Sarver was making her McKendree debut in Friday's first game.
 
The Lions, though, would push its lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth on a lead-off home run from Withers.
 
In the seventh, the Bearcats would put two runners on base thanks to back-to-back walks issued to freshman centerfielder Austen Vickery (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) and freshman shortstop Heaven Lawrence (Marion, Ill./Marion) and both runners would advance a base on a wild pitch by Bailey Lacy, before Amos returned to the circle and retired the next three Bearcats to seal its win.
 
For the game, the Bearcats had six hits, including two from Sachs. MSSU would add seven hits, including two from Kristen Wade.
 
Quaethem (3-3) took the loss in the circle for the Bearcats as she tossed six innings and allowed seven hits and four runs, while walking one and striking out one.
 
Amos (3-2) picked up the win for the Lions as she pitched seven innings and allowed six hits and two runs, while walking three and striking out seven.

Meanwhile, in the second game against the Lions, MSSU put up six runs in the first inning against the Bearcats and would add three more runs in the second to lead 9-0 after two innings.
 
In the first inning, the Lions sent 10 hitters to the plate and recorded three hits and took advantage of a Bearcat error to score six runs, including three earned runs. The big hit in the inning was a 3-run triple from Adrianna Young off sophomore Katie Nuetzel (Hereford, Ariz./Buena), who earned the start in the circle for the Bearcats.
 
Ashlynn Williams added two more runs in the bottom of the second on her 2-run triple to right and Amos followed with an RBI double to left center.
 
Trailing 9-0 heading into the third inning, the Bearcats would find the scoreboard thanks to a single by Lawrence and an RBI double by junior leftfielder Olivia Stansbury (Lafayette, Ind./Purdue Fort Wayne).
 
In the top of the fourth, the Bearcats would pull within 9-2 on an RBI single by Bires, which plated senior pinch runner Allison Carnell (Jackson/St. Charles CC). Carnell was running for junior third baseman Skyler Davis (Muncie, Ind./UT-Martin), who opened the frame with a single to center.
 
MSSU would push its lead to 10-2 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double by Williams, who went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and 4 RBI.
 
Lacy would walk Lawrence to open the fifth, but she would later be erased on a double play and then forced Hayden to fly out to center to end the game.
 
The Bearcats had five hits in the game as Bires went 2-for-2 at the plate, while the other Bearcat hits would come from Lawrence, Stansbury and Davis.
 
MSSU had eight hits as along with Williams' two hits, Amos went 3-for-3 with 2 RBI and Young had a hit and 3 RBI in the win.
 
Nuetzel (2-2) took the loss in the circle for the Bearcats as she pitched just 0.2 innings and allowed six hits and three runs (two earned), while walking two and striking out none. Bires tossed 2.2 innings and allowed six hits and four runs, while walking two and striking out none.
 
Lacy (3-2) pitched all five innings and allowed five hits and two runs, while walking two and striking out seven.
 
The Bearcats will conclude the Lions Classic on Saturday, March 5 as they face Missouri Western for a doubleheader at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.