Hays, Kan. -- The Missouri Southern baseball team exploded for 23 runs over the first three innings, including 15 in the third, en route to a 24-3 win at Fort Hays State in the series opener tonight. 

Southern (22-22, 14-16 MIAA) batted around twice in the third, the second time this season, the Lions have accomplished that feat. The 24 runs scored is tied for sixth-most ever scored in a game in MSSU history, and is the third-highest run total for the Lions in MIAA play. 

Dave Prost had a game with two home runs, as he drove in five and scored four times. Tyler Sutherland, in his first action back after injury, went 3-3 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Max Hogan went 3-4 with four driven in and two runs scored. Mike Million went 2-5 with four RBIs, a home run and two runs scored, while Joe Paulino went 3-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Alec Alvarez drove in three and scored twice. Danny Biggs scored three times, while Cory Canterbury had two hits and three runs scored, as well as an RBI. Richie Gorski drove in two runs, while Jordan Moon picked up his first hit as a Lion, driving in a run in the process. 

Colin Chandler started and went three innings, striking out five and allowing three runs to move his record to 4-1 on the season. Christian Goshen, Craig Larkin, Hayden Brauser and Trever Burkdoll threw an inning each for the Lions. 

Hays (9-31, 2-25 MIAA) got two hits from Clayton Basgall and a home run with two driven in from Nick Hammeke. Sam Capps started and moved to 2-5 on the season with the loss. 

Southern scored three runs in the first on a home run from Prost and added a pair in the second on RBIs from Hogan and Alvarez. The Lions exploded, however, for 15 runs in the third inning, batting around twice. Moon's RBI single in the seventh provided the final tally. 

The two teams will be back at it tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is slated for 3 pm.