Tahlequah, Okla. -- Brett Abell threw seven shutout innings and freshman Tee Helsel went 4-5 with four RBIs as the Missouri Southern baseball team shutout Northeastern State, 12-0 in Tahlequah today.

Southern (1-0) scored runs in each of the first three innings, going up 4-0 after three. The Lions then added a run in the fifth, two in the sixth and three in the seventh, before scoring three in the ninth.

Patrick Deao went 3-5 with a run and an RBI, while Cullen Baxter and Jesse Kinzey had two hits each. Kinzey drove in three and added a home run in the ninth.

Abell went seven, striking out four and allowing just four hits, while Ryan Taylor and David Reese each pitched an inning of scoreless relief.

The Lions will be back in action tomorrow afternoon, playing host to Arkansas Tech in a double-header at 1 pm in Joe Becker Stadium.