Kansas City, Kan. -- The Missouri Southern
Lions were narrowly defeated by the No. 9-ranked Emporia State
Hornets Thursday afternoon (May 6) in first-round
action at the MIAA Tournament at Community America Ballpark in
Kansas City, Kan. The loss sets up an elimination game against
Northwest Missouri State tomorrow morning (May 7) at 11 a.m.
The Lions broke on top first as Dane Kolkmeyer singled to lead
off the third and then scored the game's first run on an RBI single
by Joe Lincoln.
The ninth-ranked Hornets answered in the bottom of the inning on
a sacrifice fly by David Albritton.
Patrick Deao helped the Lions (26-25) take a two-run lead
with a two-run homer in the fourth inning that made it 3-1.
The Hornets scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it
a one-run game then took the lead for good with a pair of runs in
the fifth.
Travis Whipple tripled home Kenny Burkhead to tie the score
before Albritton gave the Hornets the lead with another sacrifice
fly.
From there, the pitching took over as both teams were held
scoreless the rest of the way.
Lion starter Garrett Groom was solid on the hill, pitching his
team-leading seventh complete game and allowing four runs and
striking out six in eight innings of work.
Ben Graham pitched seven innings for the Hornets (40-12) and
gave up two earned runs with five strikeouts.
Colby Killian picked up the save by throwing two scoreless
innings in relief of Graham.
Zach Caldwell, Joe Lincoln, Shayne Hoke and Patrick Deao
each went 2-of-4 at the plate for the Lions.
The Lions and Northwest Missouri split two games earlier this
season in Maryville, Mo. The final two games of the scheduled
four-game series were rained out.
