Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern baseball team split an MIAA double-header today, winning the opener, 2-1, but dropping the night cap, 4-3 to visiting Northwest Missouri at Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin.
The Lions (7-5, 3-4 MIAA) received a strong pitching performance from Cody Griebling in game one as the junior went five innings, allowing just one hit, while striking out five and walking one. Austin Brown picked up his second save of the season throwing two innings and allowing just one hit.
Dallas Burke was 2-3 in the game, while Jim Gilkerson was a perfect 2-2 with a double, a run and an RBI. Jesse Kinzey had a sacrifice fly for the Lions other RBI.
In the night cap, Northwest (1-11, 1-6 MIAA) scored four runs in the opening inning, chasing Southern starter Michael Mudd after just two thirds of an inning. Grant Conrad threw 6.1 innings of one-hit relief for the Lions.
Kinzey was 1-3 with a pair of RBIs, while CJ Matthews went 1-2 with two runs scored. The Lions scored two runs in the third on a two RBI single from Kinzey and Ben Milard drove in a run in the seventh with a pinch hit.
The Lions wrap up the weekend series with the Bearcats tomorrow with a single, nine-inning game at noon.
