JOPLIN, Mo. – MSU Moorhead softball dropped a doubleheader to Missouri Southern on Friday afternoon to begin play at the MIAA-NSIC Crossover.
 
MSUM dropped the first game 8-2 before Missouri Southern earned a run rule victory in game two, 13-4. 
 
Game One
 
Natalie Gonzalez would get the Dragons going in the top of the first with a double, but Gonzalez would not score in the frame. From there, the teams would go scoreless until the bottom of the third inning as Teagan Clemmons only surrendered a pair of hits. However, Missouri Southern would plate a pair in the home half of the third to lead, 2-0. 
 
MSUM would respond in the fourth inning as Gonzalez would again get on base with a double. Annika Norman would single in the next at-bat before Eliya Johnson drove Norman home to cut the deficit in half. Johnson would later score on a Lion error to tie the contest at two runs each. 
 
Offense would come at a premium up until the fifth inning which saw Missouri Southern score four runs on four hits and a Dragon error. Norman would double in the top of the sixth, eventually making it to third, but would not come home in the frame. The Lions would add some insurance in the home half with two more runs to lead, 8-2. 
 
The Dragons would manage one hit in the top of the seventh but would be unable to erase the six-run hole. Missouri Southern would win 8-2 with Norman, Gonzalez and Hailey Thurber all having multi-hit showings for the Dragons. 
 
Game Two
 
It was MSUM who would strike first to begin game two as Avery Steffen led off the contest with a single. Steffen eventually moved to third base on a wild pitch and scored on on a double from Norman. With Norman on second, it was Johnson who came up with the timely power, smacking a two-run shot to left field. Steffen would sling a scoreless bottom half to have the Dragons in front, 3-0. 
 
While Missouri Southern would score a run in the second, they would not tie the game until the third frame. The Lions scored two runs on three hits in the inning to have the game tied at three runs. Lexie Wilson would single in the fourth inning, eventually scoring on a single from Thurber, putting MSUM up 4-3. 
 
The Lions would explode from there, scoring 10 runs on nine hits in the bottom of the fourth. MSUM would be held in check in the fifth to invoke the run rule for the Lions. 
 
Up Next
 
MSUM (7-16) makes the short trip to Pittsburg, Kan., to take on the Gorillas of Pittsburg State tomorrow. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m.