St. Joseph, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern
Lions rallied from three runs down with five in the seventh to take
game one, then completed a critical conference sweep
with a 9-4 win in the nightcap.
The Griffons took a 3-0 lead into the deciding seventh
inning as Isaac Rome homered to lead off the fourth and sixth
and starter Blake Thomas cruised through the first six innings
with no runs allowed on just four hits.
But the Lions broke through in the seventh as Joe Lincoln led
off with a homer that was followed by a single from Shayne
Hoke and a walk to Michael Zurmehly.
After Hoke advanced to third on a passed ball, Patrick Deao
reached on an error that scored Hoke for the Lions second run of
the inning.
Zach Caldwell then doubled home pinch runner Dane Kolkmeyer to
tie the score at 3-3. A bases-loaded walk to CJ Matthews put
the Lions on top and an RBI fielders choice groundout by Jacob
Taylor put the Lions on top 5-3. Matthews advanced to third
on an error and tried to score but was thrown out at the plate for
the second out. Rawlins scored the Lions' fifth run
but Caldwell was also thrown out at the plate trying to score for
the third out of the inning.
The Griffons scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh
and had a chance to win it with the bases loaded and two out.
But Garrett Groom got Zach Kinkeade to strike out looking to
preserve the victory.
Groom got the win with a complete game effort and two earned
runs allowed and five strikeouts.
The Lions got on the board first in the nightcap as Matthews
drew a two-out walk, stole second and came around to score on a
single by Taylor.
With Carter Lance blanking the Griffons through five innings,
the Lions got some breathing room with a five-run sixth.
Zurmehly had the big blow of the inning with a two-run homer,
his third homer in four games. Caldwell also plated two runs
with a single and then stole second and scored on an RBI single by
Matthews.
The Lions (5-14, 3-9 MIAA) led 8-0 when the Griffons (7-6, 4-6
MIAA) got on the board with three runs in the bottom of
the seventh on an RBI single by Ian Atkinson and a two-run double
from Billy Waldman.
Lance allowed four runs over 7 1/3 innings and struck out two to
pick up the victory.
The Lions will complete the four-game series at Missouri Western
with another doubleheader tomorrow (Mar. 15) at noon.
