Magnolia, Ark. - An eighth inning grand slam
from Zach Caldwell in game two of a twin bill sparked the Lions to
six runs over the seventh and eighth innings and helped the
Missouri Southern baseball team to a split with fourth-ranked
Southern Arkansas today. The Lions dropped the opener 8-0, before
taking the nightcap 8-4.
Southern (1-2) tied the game at two in the fifth when Caldwell
drove home Michael Zurmehly. The Lions went ahead with two runs in
the seventh with an RBI double from Jacob Taylor and an RBI single
from Skyler Rawlins. The Lions had back-to-back walks to start the
eighth and Zurmehly reached on a fielder's choice, before Trent
Owens walked to load the bases. Caldwell then took the third pitch
of the at-bat and drilled it down the left field line for the grand
slam.
Runs in the eighth and ninth wouldn't be enough for the
Muleriders (2-1).
Caldwell went 1-5, but it was a big hit as he finished with five
RBIs and a run scored. Taylor was 1-3 with two runs and an RBI,
while Zurmehly was 1-3 with a pair of runs. Rawlins, Vince Pironti,
Patrick Deao and Joe Lincoln had a hit each.
Carter Lance started and went seven and a third, scattering
eight hits, and allowed three runs, two earned, while striking out
two. Kevin Humphrey pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing just
one hit, a run and struck out one.
Rawlins and Pironti had the Lions' lone hits in the opener as
SAU pitchers Matt Speake and Kris Marshall combined for a two-hit
shutout, striking out ten Lions.
Garrett Groom started for the Lions and went seven innings.
Tyler Jinks and Corey Wells pitched in relief.
Southern will be back in action on February 9th and 10th with
double-headers on each day at Arkansas Tech.
