Joplin, Mo. -- Jacob Taylor and Michael
Zurmehly each hit two homeruns to lead a breakout offensively for
the Missouri Southern Lions, but it wasn't enough as the
Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks finished off a four-game sweep of the
Lions with 9-8 and 16-6 wins Sunday afternoon (Mar. 7) at Joe
Becker Stadium.
The Lions found themselves in a huge hole in the opener as the
Mavericks scored twice in the first inning and then exploded for
six in the second for an early 8-0 lead.
Tyler Lundy hit a two-run double in the first and Brady
Hohl singled home two more runs in the second as the Mavericks
were aided by two Lion errors that led to four unearned runs.
The Lions then began a huge charge back in the second
inning as Skyler Rawlins and Vince Pironti each hit RBI
singles and CJ Matthews added a two-run single that cut the lead in
half.
Taylor scored the fifth Lion run after tripling to lead off the
third and crossing the plate on an RBI groundout by Shayne Hoke.
The Lions played long ball in the fifth as Joe Lincoln hit
a lead-off single that was followed by a two-run shot by Taylor
that made it a one-run game. Zurmehly then hit a majestic
pinch-hit homer to right field that tied the score at 8-8.
Andre Hansen scored the eventual game-winning run for the
Mavericks by leading off the sixth with a double and scoring
on a double-play groundout.
The Lions had a golden opportunity to tie or take the lead in
the bottom of the sixth when the inning started with a single
by Licoln and a walk to Taylor that put runners on first and
second. But Hoke attempted to sacrifice bunt and hit into a
tough fielders choice as pitcher Brandon Dahl made a nice play to
throw Lincoln out at third. Rawlins then flied out and Deao
grounded out to end the inning.
Lions' starter Kevin Humphrey got off to a shaky start but
settled in after the second inning and allowed only one run over
the final five innings. Humphrey allowed nine runs overall
but only three were earned and finished with five strikeouts.
Much like the opener, the Mavericks again jumped out to a huge
lead in the nightcap as Jeremy Klein hit an RBI double in the
first and UNO then plated four more in the second for a five-run
cushion.
Zurmehly got the Lions (3-14, 1-9 MIAA) on the board in the
fourth with another towering homer to right field.
The Lions again would hurt themselves in the field by committing
three errors in the fifth inning that led to five
unearned runs. Lundy and Brady Hohl each hit RBI doubles as
UNO scored six runs overall that inning to pull away to an 11-1
lead.
Vince Pironti hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth and
Taylor added another homer in the sixth.
The Lions will next play a four-game series at Missouri Western
beginning with a doubleheader next Saturday (Mar. 13) at 2 p.m. in
St. Joseph, Mo.
