Joplin, Mo. -- The 13th ranked Missouri Southern baseball team scored five runs over the fifth and sixth innings and the Lions won 6-5 to take the series finale from Southwest Baptist today at Warren Turner Field. 

Southern (21-8, 12-8 MIAA) fot a 3-for-5 afternoon from Richie Gorski as the shortstop added an RBI. Jacob Bryant had a hit and two RBIs, while Chris Hoffman had a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Hoffman, Matt Smith and Brett Graham had a hit each with Graham scoring twice. Tyler Sutherland, Hoffman and Smith scored a run each, while Danny Biggs drove in a run and scored once. 

Hoffman started and went five and two thirds of an inning, striking out five and allowing four runs to earn a no-decision. Conner Matson threw the final three and a third and moved his record to 4-0 on the season, striking out three and walking one. 

SBU's (15-15, 11-11 MIAA) Christin Binger went 3-for-4 in the game.  

The Bearcats pushed across two runs in the first inning to take an early lead. The Lions answered with three runs in the fifth as Smith started the inning by doubling down the left field line on the first pitch of the inning. Graham was walked and Hayden Steele was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no one out. Biggs beat out a double-play for an RBI as Smith scored and Bryant doubled to left center, scoring Biggs and Graham. 

SBU scored two more runs in the top of the sixth to go back up 4-3, but the Lions answered back with two more runs in the bottom of the inning on a home run from Hoffman. 

Southern added an insurance run in the eighth on an RBI single from Gorski. The Bearcats scored a run in the ninth, but Matson rebounded to strike out two and get the final out for the win. 

The Lions will be back in action on Tuesday evening as Southern plays host to Central Oklahoma. The first pitch from Warren Turner Field is slated for 5 pm.