Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern baseball team dropped a pair of non-conference games today, losing 8-6 to Central Methodist and 11-8 to Ottawa at Joe Becker Stadium.

In game one, Central Methodist (4-2) started things off with three runs in the first inning, all with two outs. The Lions (8-7) added a run in the second when Tee Helsel led off the bottom of the second with a home run, his second of the season.

CMU added a two runs in the third, but the Lions added three more to get within one (5-4) in the third inning. Michael McCoy started things off with a one-out double down the left field line and Sam Ryan walked behind him. Nick Doughty then doubled to left center scoring both runners. Will Wagner would add a sacrifice fly later in the inning, scoring Doughty.

From there, Lions starter Brett Abell settled down and recorded ten straight outs until the seventh inning, but he would get out of the inning as he had four-straight scoreless innings.

The Eagles, however, would score three runs in the top of the eighth, and despite two late in the ninth from the Lions, would hold on for the win.

McCoy went 3-5 with two runs scored, while Sam Ryan scored twice, added a pair of hits and drove in a run. Tee Helsel went 3-5 and added an RBI and a run scored, while Wagner drove in one. Abell went seven and two thirds of an inning, striking out seven and walking just two. Stephen Vaughn, Bo Bergen and Kaleb Clark saw action in relief.

In game two, Ottawa (4-5) scored a run in the first and three in the second, but a five-run fifth would prove to be decisive as the Braves took out the Lions, 11-8. 

Southern scored a run in the first when McCoy led off the inning with a home run to left. The Lions would be trailing 5-1 in the fourth when Southern scored three runs in the inning on a two-RBI double from Wilson and an RBI triple from Dillon Youngman. 

The Lions would score a run in the sixth on an RBI single from Youngman and a single run in the eighth on a sac fly from Ryan. Wagner added a two-RBI single in the ninth, but the Lions' rally would stall. 

Ryan went 3-4 in the game with an RBI, while Wilson went 3-5 with a pair of runs and RBIs. Zack Steadman went 2-2 with a pair of runs and Youngman went 2-3 with two driven in. 

Southern will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon with a 3 pm double-header at home against Emporia State. Game one of that double-header will be broadcast on AM 1450 The Score.