By: Luke Rinne, Assistant Sports Information Director
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Box Score 2
(Rolla, Mo.) – Kristen Drage (Morganfield, Ky./Union County ) tied the S&T school record for career RBIs by hitting a grand slam in the third inning of S&T's 8-0 win over Missouri Southern in five innings in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday. The Lions rallied late to win the nightcap 2-1.
Drage tied Emily Tucker's school record of 111 runs batted in and needs just one more to move into sole possession of first.
S&T (9-21) was held without a hit until one out in the third. Lauren Briggs (LaMonte, Mo./Knob Noster) started the rally with a single to left center. After a strikeout, Jennifer Sardigal (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) lined a single off the third baseman then Kassi Deibert (Highland, Ill./Highland) singled to right center to load the bases. Drage hit the first pitch she saw for a towering home run to center to give the Lady Miners the lead. Kaylea Smith (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) made it 5-0 on the next pitch with a homer to left.
Missouri Southern (16-15) had numerous opportunities in the game but stranded nine runners on base including leaving the bases loaded twice. In the fourth it loaded the bases with no one out but Taylor Keal (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs South) got the next three hitters to keep the shutout intact.
The Lady Miners put the game away in the fifth as Jamie Hatlan (Fenton, Mo./Rockwood Summit ) led off the inning with a single then Sardigal worked a full count before drawing a walk. Deibert ended the game with a three-run homer to left center.
S&T had seven hits in the game led by Deibert with two. Keal got the complete game shutout allowing only two hits in five innings. She did issue five free passes but struck out a pair.
In the nightcap the Lady Miners had an opportunity in the first putting two on with one out but back-to-back groundouts ended that threat.
The Lions had chances in the third and fourth inning loading the bases but each time Amber Duncan (Centralia, Mo./Centralia) was able to get a ground out to end the inning.
The Lady Miners jumped on top in the bottom of the fourth getting taking advantage of an error and back-to-back singles to open the inning. Smith's single to right center scored Lindsey DeForest (Fulton, Mo./North Callaway) who had run for Deibert. S&T wasn't able to do any more damage though as Drage was called out for interfering with the shortstop and a strikeout ended the inning.
Missouri Southern had a chance to tie the game in the fifth. With a runner on second and two away Brooke Hurley singled through the left side. Kiley Siebenaler tried to score on the play but was gunned down at the plate on a strong throw from Briggs to end frame.
S&T had a chance to extend its lead in the home half of the fifth putting runners on second and third with one out but couldn't score.
The Lions tied it in the sixth on a RBI single Shelby Romines then took the lead in the seventh on a bloop double to left center to score Breanna Volkmann.
The Lady Miners went quietly in the seventh to end the game.
S&T had nine hits in game two led by Maggie Schroeder (Bonner Springs, Kan./Basehor-Linwood) with two. Smith drove in the lone run. Duncan started the game and threw five innings. She allowed no runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out three. Keal pitched the last two innings giving up two runs on three hits. She also walked a batter, but struck out three.
The Lady Miners are back in action on Saturday afternoon hosting Quincy in a GLVC doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
