Hays, Kan. -- Shayne Hoke drove in six runs as
the Missouri Southern Lions erupted for 14 runs and defeated the
Fort Hays State Tigers 14-10 in the second game of a doubleheader
Sunday afternoon (Apr. 25) in Hays, Kan. The Tigers slipped
by the Lions 10-9 in the opener as the two schools split the
four-game weekend series.
The Lions are now currently tied with Missouri Western
for sixth in the MIAA standings. The top six finishing
schools will advance to the MIAA Postseason Tournament in
Kansas City, Kan.
The Lions jumped ahead early in the nightcap on an RBI double by
Joe Lincoln in the first inning.
Connor Martin hit a solo homer in the bottom of the first for
the Tigers that knotted the score at 1-1.
The Lions regained the lead on a two-run single by Hoke in the
third before the Tigers answered with a run of their own in
the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Nash Smith.
Hoke then delivered a three-run double in the fourth to cap a
huge six-run inning for the Lions.
Skyler Rawlins hit a lead-off homer and Fernando Lugo chipped in
with an RBI infield single. Lincoln also drew a
bases-loaded walk in the inning that saw the Lions pull ahead to a
9-2 lead.
The score was 9-4 when CJ Matthews homered in the fifth to put
the Lions up by six runs.
The Lions' defense hurt them in the bottom of the fifth as three
errors led to five unearned runs for the Tigers that quickly made
it just a one-run game.
But Hoke again came through at the plate, this time with a
two-run homer in the sixth that gave the Lions some breathing room
at 12-9.
After Kelton Rule hit a solo homer that cut the deficit to two
runs, Lincoln and Jacob Taylor hit back-to-back homers in the
seventh that gave the Lions a pair of valuable insurance
runs.
Starter Zak Porath got the win for the Lions in 4 2/3 innings of
work. He gave up nine runs, but only three were earned and he
struck out four batters.
CJ Maffei pitched the final 2 1/3 innings and allowed one run
with three strikeouts to pick up the save.
Hoke was 3-of-5 at the plate with the six RBI, while Lincoln was
a perfect 4-of-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.
The first game didn't start out well for the Lions (22-24,
16-18 MIAA) as an error led to three unearned runs in the
bottom of the first that put the Lions in an early 3-0
hole.
Zach Caldwell came up in the third and delivered a two-run
single that brought the Lions to within a run.
Lugo then gave the Lions the lead with a two-run shot in
the top of the fourth.
But the lead was short-lived as a two-run triple by Nash Smith
capped a five-run bottom of the fourth for the Tigers (27-19, 19-17
MIAA) that put the Lions down 8-4.
The Lions fought back to within a run on an RBI single by
Lincoln in the fifth and run-scoring singles from Matthews and
Patrick Deao in the sixth.
The Tigers though responded with homers from Jordan Payne and
Sloan Soulia in the bottom of the sixth that once again put them on
top by three runs.
The Lions refused to go quietly as Lincoln led off the seventh
with a walk that was followed by a two-run shot by Taylor that
brought the Lions to within a single tally.
Southern then loaded the bases with two out, but reliever Mat
Atkinson got Caldwell to strike out to end the game.
Kevin Humphrey started the game for the Lions and gave up six
runs in six innings and struck out three.
Taylor went 3-of-4 at the dish for the Lions, with a pair of RBI
and two runs scored.
The Lions will wrap up the regular season with a four-game set
at home against Southwest Baptist, beginning with a doubleheader on
Friday afternoon. (Apr. 30) The first game is set for 4
p.m. at Joe Becker Stadium.
