Looking to earn some much-needed conference wins as the season comes to an end, the Lindenwood softball team split with second-place Pittsurg State on Friday afternoon from Lou Brock Sports Complex. The Lady Lions dropped the first contest, 3-2, before holding onto a one-run lead in the nightcap to win, 2-1. 

Kimberly Fozzard and Stormee Galka held their own against Pitt State's Emmie Robertson, a top contender for the MIAA Pitcher of the Year award in 2017. Fozzard, who started game one, allowed three earned runs on seven base hits as the Gorillas squeaked past a comeback attempt by the Lady Lions. Robertson came in relief in the fifth inning for the visitors, but Galka surrendered just one earned run and struck out a pair to hold off the Pitt State offense. 

Austine Pauley and Brooke Tiehes each had three hits on the day, including two extra-base knocks by Pauley. Fozzard had two hits in the first game, while Hannah Johnson recorded a pair of hits in game two. Tiehes led Lindenwood with two RBI, one in each game.

Game One

Pitt State gained the early advantage in the second inning when Nicole Nease led off the frame with a homer off the scoreboard, and then added another run on an RBI single later. 

Fozzard settled in after the 10-minute rain pour and failed to let another Gorilla score until the sixth inning. The Lady Lions didn't get their first baseunner until one out in the fifth as Pauley doubled to left-center field. Fozzard nearly tied the game two batters later when she hit the top of the center-field fence for a triple. Tiehes followed up the triple with a seven-pitch at-bat that resulted in a game-tying single. 

Pitt State tied the game in the sixth on a two-out single and held a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning. Adele Linderman walked to lead off the Lindenwood frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Morgan Brown. However, Johnson and Bethany Fountain flew out to end the threat. 

Lindenwood would continue the threat in the seventh inning, still trailing by a run. Pauley singled and Fozzard doubled to put runners in scoring position with just one out, as Tiehes reached first on a hit by pitch. The momentum stopped there, as Lexi Theis and Linderman failed to get the runs home as the Lady Lions fell in the opener, 3-2. 

Game Two

It was Lindenwood's turn to grab the lead early. Pauley and Tiehes each tripled in the second inning, and Stocker scored Tiehes on a squeeze bunt to give Lindenwood a 2-0 lead. Galka retired 11 of the first 13 batters for the Gorillas. With two outs in the fourth inning, Pitt State used consecutive hits to cut the Lady Lions' lead in half. 

Lindenwood looked to score again in the fifth inning as Brown and Johnson singled to lead off the inning. Robertson entered for Pitt State, however, and sent the rest of the Lindenwood lineup down in order. 

Leadoff hitter Kaity Kukowski doubled with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Galka induced a popup to Johnson at third base to end the game, 2-1.

The split sends Lindenwood to 19-20 on the season and 7-11 in MIAA play. The Lady Lions are one victory away from their first 20-win since 2014, and will look to rise in the conference standings tomorrow afternoon against Missouri Southern. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. from Lou Brock Sports Complex as the team will celebrate its six seniors.