Joplin, Mo. -- For the second time in their
last three games, the Missouri Southern Lions have rallied
back from an eight-run deficit, this time in the second game
of a doubleheader with the Drury Panthers Tuesday evening (Apr. 6)
at Joe Becker Stadium. The Lions came back to win the
nightcap 9-8 after winning the first game over the Panthers 9-3.
Tyler Goss hit a pair of two-run homers to fuel the Panthers'
big lead in the nightcap. The Panthers scored five runs in
the second and three more in the third to build an eight-run
cushion.
But the Lions came roaring back with two in the bottom of the
third and five more in the fourth to come within a run.
Caldwell got the rally started in the third with a one-out walk
and then scored the Lions' first run on an RBI single by Joe
Lincoln. A bases-loaded walk to Skyler Rawlins plated the
Lions' second run.
Lee Hall and Zak Porath got things going in the fourth with
back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. A single by Dane
Kolkmeyer advanced the runners before Lincoln singled both
home that made it 8-4.
Jacob Taylor then tripled on a 3-2 pitch that scored Kolkmeyer
and Lincoln. Taylor scored the Lions' fifth run of the inning
on a wild pitch.
The Lions scored the two winning runs in the bottom of the sixth
as Caldwell drew a lead-off walk, stole second, advanced to third
on the throwing error and then scored the tying run on a sacrifice
fly by Lincoln.
Kolkmeyer then scored the go-ahead run after he was hit by
a pitch, stole second and was driven in on an RBI single by
Michael Zurmehly.
Regular starter CJ Maffei came on in relief and blanked the
Panthers over the final 1 2/3 innings to pick up his fifth victory
of the season. Reliever Mitch Albright also helped the
Lions' rally by holding the Panthers scoreless in 2 2/3 innings of
work.
Taylor and Lincoln led the Lions' offensive charge
by combining to go 6-of-7 at the plate with seven RBI.
The Lions (16-19, 12-14 MIAA) jumped all over Panther starter
Harrison Waters in the opener, scoring five times in the first
frame.
Rawlins drove in two runs with a double and Fernando Lugo hit an
RBI triple. Lincoln and Taylor also had run-scoring singles
in the inning.
After the Panthers (14-16, 8-6 GLVC) got on the board with
an unearned tally in the third, Patrick Deao drove in a pair
of runs that gave the Lions a commanding 7-1 lead.
Lincoln rounded out the Lions' scoring by hitting his fourth
homer with one out in the fourth inning.
Starter Garrett Groom was solid on the mound, pitching all seven
innings with two earned runs allowed and five strikeouts for his
fifth win of the year.
Lincoln and Lugo each went 2-of-2 in the first game for the
Lions.
The Lions will next host Northeastern State in another
non-conference tilt next Tuesday night (Apr. 13) at 6 p.m.
