Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern baseball team dropped both ends of a double-header today to visiting Emporia State, falling 9-6 in the opener and 17-3 in the nightcap. 

Southern (8-9, 4-7 MIAA) led 4-3 after two innings in game one, but a five-run fourth inning from Emporia (7-11, 6-8 MIAA) would be enough as the Hornets took game one 9-6.

Dallas Burke was 2-3 with two runs scored, while Sam Ryan had a hit and two RBIs. Dane Kolkmeyer went 1-2 with a run and two RBIs, while Thomas Wilson was 2-3 with two runs scored. 

David Reese started game one and went three and a third, but was victimized by errors as he allowed eight runs, just three earned, however. He struck out six and walked two. Payton Walker, Stephen Vaughn, Bo Bergen and Ryan Bates pitched in relief. 

Emporia scored all 17 runs over the third, fourth and fifth innings, hilighted by an eight-run fifth inning. 

The Lions scored a run in the third on an RBI double from Michael McCoy, and added two runs in the fifth on an RBI single from Tee Helsel. 

Burke went 3-4 in the game with two runs scored, while Helsel was 2-4 with an RBI and McCoy had a run and an RBI. 

The Lions will be back in action this weekend as Southern plays host to Truman State. The Lions and Bulldogs will have a double-header beginning at 1 pm on Saturday and a single, nine-inning game on Sunday at 1 pm, as well.