Edmond, Okla. -- The 13th ranked Missouri Southern baseball team scored a run in the top of the ninth and held on to defeat Central Oklahoma 10-9 today at Simmons Field in Edmond. 

The Lions (20-7, 10-7 MIAA) got a huge day from Matt Smith as the junior catcher went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and four runs scored. He had his fourth home run of the season in the effort. Jacob Bryant was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Hayden Steele had two hits and an RBI. Jesse Rall drove in two, while Richie Gorski had an RBI of his own. 

Cody Hutchinson started the game and went five and two thirds of an inning, striking out six and walking just one, but left with the no-decision. Conner Matson threw two and a third and got the win to move to 3-0 on the season, while Austin Aspegren threw the ninth and struck out a batter to pick up save number two. 

Central (19-9, 11-6 MIAA) got four hits from Jon Kamies and three hits each by Landon Eason and Brenton Washausen. 

The Lions scored in each of the first three innings starting with back-to-back doubles from Bryant and Rall, scoring Bryant. Rall walked with the bases-loaded in the second to drive in run number two, while Southern picked up two in the third with RBIs from Gorski and Steele. 

UCO scored a single run in each of the second, third and the fifth inning, but the Lions broke open the game with four runs in the top of the sixth. Smith hit a three-run homer, while Bryant scored an unearned run in the inning, as well. 

The Bronchos picked up two more runs in the seventh to make the score 8-7, but the Lions scored a run in the eighth as Smith scored on a wild pitch to make the score 9-7. UCO tied the game with two in the bottom of the eighth, but another RBI from Matt Smith, this time scoring Brett Graham on a single proved to be the go-ahead run. 

The Lions will be back in action this weekend as Southern plays host to Southwest Baptist on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.