Joplin, Mo. -- Missouri Southern sophomore right hander Sean Goostree became the eighth pitcher in MSSU history to throw a no-hitter as the 29th ranked Lions split with visiting Pittsburg State today, winning game two 1-0, but falling in the opener 9-7 as the two teams hooked up in a State Farm Trophy Series matchup. 

Southern (19-4) splits the first two games of the four-game non-conference series with the Gorillas (7-16). The no-hitter is the first since 2000 when Trevor Brown no-hit Jamestown in five innings. 

Goostree faced just four batters over the minimum. He struck out eight and walked none. Jesse Rall's home run on the first pitch of the second inning was all the offense Goostree needed. Richie Gorski had the other Lions' hit. 

In game one, the Lions led 2-1 after two innings, but two errors and a passed ball in the top of the fifth led to five runs, one earned in the inning. 

Southern answered right back with three runs in the bottom half of the third. Rall singled home Chris Hoffman for the first run, while Gorski and Axel Johnson had RBI's in the inning, as well. 

Pitt scored a single run in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and despite a two-RBI triple to right field for Rall in the sixth, the Lions couldn't complete the comeback. 

Rall went 2-3 with three RBIs and a run scored in the opener. Hoffman had two hits, while Chad Shannon, Jon Davis, Gorski and Matt Smith had a hit each. 

Matt Harvey started and went five innings, striking out four and allowing just two earned runs getting the hard-luck loss. Kanon Hoover and Nick Pettus pitched in relief. 

The Lions will be back in action this weekend when Southern travels to No. 30 Missouri Western for a four-game weekend MIAA series.