Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern baseball team will open up the 2017 season this week with a pair of games against Christian Brothers University in Millington, Tenn. at USA Stadium. 

The Lions were picked to finish fourth in the MIAA in the preseason coaches poll. The Lions were 32-20 last season and finished in fifth place in the final MIAA standings. Southern returns a pair of All-MIAA performers in second-teamer Richie Gorski and third teamer Tyler Sutherland. In all Southern returns five starters in the field and two on the mound to join a group of talented newcomers incoming for the Lions this year. 

CBU is 2-2 already in the young season with a loss to open the year against NAIA Blue Mountain before the Bucs took 2-of-3 from Lindenwood University this past weekend. CBU has two players hitting .500 with more than ten at bats in Mickey Smith and Casey Goodwin, while Peyton Sanderlin and Patrick Gurley picked up the team's two wins. 

Both games will be broadcasted live on the MSSU Radio Network on 101.3 FM and AM 1560, as well as video streamed on the Missouri Southern Stretch Internet Portal. Links are above in the story, or can be found on the baseball schedule. 

Southern will play these two games to open the season, but the Lions will be back in action at home this weekend as the team welcomes Wisconsin-Parkside to Warren Turner Field. The Lions will play one game on Friday with a 1 pm start with a double-header on Saturday, also starting at 1 pm. Sunday's finale is slated to begin at 1 pm.