Joplin, Mo. -- The 19th-ranked Missouri Southern baseball team took an 8-3 lead into the eighth inning tonight, but Central Oklahoma scored six runs over the final two innings and defeated the Lions 9-8 at Warren Turner Field. 

The Lions (22-9, 12-9 MIAA) got a pair of hits each from Jesse Rall and Tyler Sutherland as Rall drove in a run and Sutherland scored once. Jacob Bryant had three RBIs and a run scored, while Richie Gorski, Chris Hoffman and Hayden Steele had an RBI each. Hoffman homered for his one RBI. 

Southern starter Cody Smith started and went seven innings, exiting with an 8-3 lead after striking out three and allowing just two earned runs. Hunter Harrison threw an inning, allowing three earned, while Conner Matson threw a third and Cody Hutchinson threw the final two thirds and got saddled with the loss to move to 3-4 on the season. 

Central Oklahoma (20-12, 12-9 MIAA) hit three home runs including back-to-back shots to start the ninth. 

UCO got on top first with a run in the top of the third. The Lions answered back with seven runs in the fourth, all coming with two outs and all after an error that would have ended the inning. Graham reached on an error that scored Sutherland to start the scoring, while Steele singled home Matt Smith for run number two. Bryant cleared the bases with a double down the left field line, while a double for Gorski down the left field line scored Bryant. Rall singled home Gorski for the seventh run of the inning.

Hoffman homered in the fifth inning to make the score 8-3 and the score stayed that way until the eighth. UCO scored a single run in the eighth off a wild pitch and the Bronchos scored five in the ninth to take the game. 

The Lions will be back in action tomorrow afternoon, playing at Missouri S&T. First pitch from Rolla is slated for 2 pm.