Joplin, Mo. - The 17th ranked Missouri Southern baseball program will host Northeastern State in a three game weekend conference series beginning on Friday, Apr. 21st at Warren Turner Field.

Game schedule for the weekend is 6:00pm on Friday and a 1:00pm first pitch for Saturday and Sunday at Warren Turner Field. Saturday will be Senior Day for the Lions who will honor Cole Woods, Jeremiah Kennedy, Matt Miller,  Nathan Massey and Ryan Doran prior to the game.

Southern (34-10, 21-6 MIAA) as a team is hitting .333 while averaging 10.3 runs, 11.8 hits, 2.5 doubles, 2.1 home runs and 0.9 stolen bases a game. As a pitching staff the Lions have a 5.53 ERA, 1.57 WHIP with opponents hitting .281 and striking out 8.3 times per game.

Nate Mieszkowski leads the team with a .406 average, 66 runs scored, 78 hits, four triples, 135 total bases, a .480 on-base percentage and 10 stolen bases. Ethan Clark this season is hitting .384 with 34 runs scored, 56 hits, 13 doubles and 50 RBIs. Garrett Rice is hitting .364 with 53 runs scored, 59 hits, nine doubles, 10 home runs and 39 RBIs. Henry Kusiak is hitting .363 with 54 runs scored, 65 hits, 15 doubles, 11 home runs and 51 RBIs. Miller is hitting .352 with 52 runs scored, 58 hits, nine doubles and a league leading 18 home runs for 62 RBIs. Drew Davis is hitting .303 with 27 hits, 33 hits, nine doubles and 19 RBIs. 

On the mound Woods (8-2, 3.64 ERA, 1.02 WHIP) leads the team with 66.2 innings, 80 strikeouts and holds opponents to a .220 average. Cole Gayman (5-0), Trent Harris (4-0), Cale McCallister (3-0), Lane Steen (3-1), Owen Schneider (2-1), Kyle Kaempf (1-1) and Jacob Davis (0-2) have drawn starting assignments this season and been used from the bullpen with all but one featuring in more than 10 games. Kyle Moore and Laif Hultine are the top relievers with Moore posting a 6-2 record, 3.31 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and three saves in 51.2 innings to strike out 48 while holding opponents to a .229 average. Hultine is 2-1 with a 2.42 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and four saves with 22.1 innings to strike out 24 and holds opponents to a .226 average.

Northeastern State (18-22, 12-15 MIAA) as a team is hitting .282 while averaging 6.6 runs, 9.6 hits, 2.1 doubles, 1.3 home runs and 1.6 stolen bases a game. As a pitching staff the RiverHawks have a 5.99 ERA, 1.66 WHIP with opponents hitting .274 and striking out 7.5 times per game.

Brayden Rodden leads the team with a .351 average, 54 hits and nine home runs. C.D. White is hitting .340 with 29 runs scored, 51 hits, 13 doubles, six home runs and 27 RBIs. Isiah Keler is hitting .327 with 38 runs scored, 50 hits, 14 doubles, eight home runs, 39 RBIs and has stolen 17 bases. Ty Vane Meteris hitting .298 with 28 runs scored, 45 hits, eight doubles, three home runs and 21 RBIs. Blake Freeman is hitting .293 with 33 runs scored, 48 hits, seven doubles, five home runs and 20 RBIs. 

On the mound Lee Callison (4-3, 3.72 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) leads the team with 67.2 innings, 60 strikeouts and holds opponents to a .222 average. Seth Stacey (2-3), Cole White (2-3), CJ Briley (3-1), Ty Van Meter (0-3) and Alex Khan (1-1) have started games this season for the RiverHawks. White is the most used reliever making 22 appearances for a 3.62 ERA, 1.61 WHIP with 27.1 innings and 24 strikeouts. Kyle Duffey has made 20 appearances for a 1-1 record, 6.43 ERA, 1.76 WHIP in 21.0 innings with 12 strikeouts and 18 walks issued.