Joplin, Mo. - The 13th ranked Missouri Southern baseball program began the MIAA Tournament with a resounding 5-1 win over Newman at Warren Turner Field on Friday, May 5th.

The Lions (39-12) got 8.0 shutout innings from Cole Woods surrendering only four hits and a walk with two strikeouts from 103 pitches. Laif Hultine came in to pitch the ninth and record one strikeout to help close out the game. Ethan Clark led the team with two RBIs going 2-for-4 as Chayton Beck went 3-for-3 and Drew Davis finished 2-for-3 with a walk drawn.

In the first five innings it was a pitching and defensive exhibition with Newman (22-29) executing a double play in the third and the Lions turning double plays in the fourth and fifth innings as neither team was able to score before the sixth. Southern would get on the board first with a Clark single up the middle scoring Treghan Parker and a Garrett Rice single through the left side scoring Clark for the 2-0 lead. 

The Lions would add three more runs in the seventh thanks to an error on a sacrifice bunt, balk and RBI single to center field for the 5-0 lead. Newman would get a run in the ninth to stave off the shutout but was not enough to turn the tide as the Lions came away 5-1 winners to begin the MIAA Tournament. 

Game two of the best-of-three series against Newman will be on Saturday, May 6th at 1:00pm from Warren Turner Field. With a win for the Lions they would advance to the MIAA Tournament Semifinals and Championship rounds at Crane Stadium in Warrensburg, Mo. that will begin on Thursday May 11th and goes until Saturday, May 13th. If the Lions were to lose they would host Newman in a deciding game on Sunday, May 7th at 1:00pm with the winner of that game advancing to the next round of the tournament.

Single-Season Update
Cole Woods - Is now tied with Scott Wright (1995) for the seventh most strikeouts in a season with 93. Following his win today he became the seventh pitcher in program history to have 10 or more wins in a season joining Corey Wells (14 in 2009), Zach Parish (11 in 2021), Tim Luther (11 in 1991), Cody Hutchinson (10 in 2015), Chuck Pittman (10 in 1991 and 92) and Doug Stockam (10 in 1986).

Nate Mieszkowski - Moved past Matt Meyr (2001) for the fourth most runs in a season with 72. Is now tied with Meyr (2001) and Joe Majeski (1987) for the fourth most hits in a season with 85.

Chayton Beck - Moved past Rocky Williams (1991) for the ninth most putouts in a season with 371.

Career Update
Cole Woods - Moved past Michael Meyer (2004-07) for the 10th most innings in a career with 216.1 following his performance today. Read Full Article