Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern Lions
closed out the regular season in style by defeating the Southwest
Baptist Bearcats 11-9 Monday evening (May 3) at Joe Becker Stadium
to finish off a four-game sweep of the Bearcats.
The Bearcats got on the board first as Niko Saladis tripled home
Justin Barnhart and Justin Crumpley added an RBI groundout that
gave SBU an early two-run lead.
Fernando Lugo answered for the Lions with a two-run single in
the bottom of the frame and Patrick Deao put the Lions on top by
drawing a bases-loaded walk for the third run of the inning.
SBU regained the lead as Kyle Wise and Dominic Bouvier
contributed RBI singles as part of a three-run third inning that
put the Bearcats back on top by three runs.
The Lions (26-24, 20-18 MIAA) then broke through for five runs
in the bottom of the third.
CJ Matthews scored the first run of the inning on an error
before Zach Caldwell singled home Patrick Deao that knotted the
score at 5-5.
Joe Lincoln put the Lions back in front with a two-run single
and Jacob Taylor capped the big inning with an RBI double that
chased home Lincoln.
After the Bearcats (11-39, 9-31 MIAA) scored a pair of runs in
the fourth to come within a run, the Lions responded in the bottom
of the fourth as Matthews tripled and scored on an RBI groundout by
Deao.
The Lions added another run in the fifth as Caldwell was
hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, stole second and third
and then scored after Skyler Rawlins walked and was caught in
a rundown and was eventually picked off on the play.
Paden Grubbs homered to lead off the seventh for SBU that made
it a two-run game. The Bearcats were not through in the
inning and made it a one-run game on an RBI single by Kyle
Tormanen.
But Lincoln scored a valuable insurance run for the Lions in the
bottom of the seventh by tripling with one out and scoring on a
sacrifice fly by Taylor.
Tyler Jinks got the win for the Lions by pitching three innings
in relief of starter Zak Porath. Jinks allowed one earned run
and struck out three.
Mitch Albright pitched two scoreless frames to earn his second
save of the season.
Lincoln powered the Lions' offensive attack by going 3-of-5 at
the plate and driving in two runs. Lugo and Deao also had two
RBI for the Lions.
The Lions will now set their sights on the MIAA Postseason
Tournament in Kansas City, Kan. The fifth-seeded Lions will
play the No. 2 seed Emporia State Hornets on Thursday afternoon
(May 6) at 3 p.m.
The Lions and Hornets split a four-game series earlier this
season in Emporia, Kan.
