Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Baseball team will continue play at home, hosting Oklahoma Baptist for a single game on Tuesday, February 13. Originally, this contest was scheduled to be on the road, but the series locations have flipped and the Bison will visit Joplin first, then the Lions will head to Shawnee, OK on February 27. Game time for this Tuesday's contest is scheduled for 3:00pm at Warren Turner Field. 

Game Information:
Teams: Missouri Southern (6-2) vs Oklahoma Baptist (6-1)
Date: February 13 (Tuesday)
First Pitch: 3:00 PM
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Warren Turner Field
Live Stats
Live Video

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Scouting the Lions
Following a series sweep of Ouachita Baptist in their home opener, Missouri Southern brings a 6-2 record into Tuesday's contest. They began the year with a big 7-2 victory over #17 Southern Arkansas, and Cole Gayman was named the National Pitcher of the Week for his performance. The offense exploded in game two, winning 16-4 over Henderson State. Another strong offensive performance occurred the next day as the Lions defeated Arkansas-Monticello 10-6. Ouachita Baptist took the final game of the opening tournament, 8-1. Last Tuesday, MSSU jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first, but SWOSU answered back and held a 5-1 lead for a majority of the game. The Lions plated a few late, but fell 7-4 to the Bulldogs. The Lions outscored the Tigers 26-2 in their weekend series, taking game one 15-1 in seven innings, game two 6-0, and game three 5-1.

Cole Gayman was named MIAA, Regional, and National Pitcher of the Week last week, and he had another strong performance against OBU. In the team's home opener, Gayman gave up just one hit and one run over all 7.0 innings pitched. He recorded 9 strikeouts against the Tigers, walking just 2, and holding opposing batters to a .045 average. Trent Harris and Laif Hultine combined for the shutout in game two, as Harris tossed 8.0 innings, striking out 6 and giving up just 4 hits.

Will Doherty had a strong weekend and is now hitting .379 (11-29) with 2 triples, 2 home runs, and a team-high 11 RBI and .724 slugging percentage. Drew Townsend leads the team with a .400 batting average, going 10-25 at the plate. He has recorded 1 home run and has 6 RBI with 9 runs scored, drawing 13 walks as well. Ethan Clark is the third Lion with double digit hits, going 12-31 at the plate with a .387 average with a double, a triple, and 7 RBI. 

Scouting the Bison
The Oklahoma Baptist Bison enter Tuesday's competition with a 6-1 record on the 2024 season. To begin the year, OBU played at the UCO Festival in Edmond, OK. In their first game of the season, the Bison run-ruled the Pittsburg State Gorillas, 17-5 in 8 innings. They followed with a 6-2 win over Emporia State, but suffered a 6-3 loss to Central Oklahoma. This past Thursday-Saturday they swept a four game series with New Mexico Highlands, winning 17-5, 10-7, 7-5, and 10-8. 

Three members of the team have recorded 10+ hits and are hitting over .400 on the year. Alex Schroeder (#30) is batting .435, going 10-23 at the plate with 4 doubles, 4 home runs, 15 RBI, and 11 runs scored. His on-base percentage is .563 and his slugging percentage is at 1.130. Troy Shields (#33) is 10-24 (.417) at the plate, recording a double and 3 home runs with 11 RBI and 10 runs scored. Both Schroeder and Shields have spent time catching and in the designated hitter spot. Isiah Lissade (#1) is also hitting .407, recording 11 hits in 27 at-bats. Of those 11 hits, 2 have been doubles and 2 were home runs, finishing with 9 RBI and 9 runs scored. Along with his hitting, he is 1-1 in stolen base attempts on the year, one of two successful attempts by the Bison. He hits leadoff in the lineup and plays second base. 

Brek Galbreath (#15) and Cameron Pool (#4) are both 2-0 on the year in their 2 starts. Galbreath has thrown 10.0 innings this year, giving up 13 hits, 4 earned runs and 2 walks while striking out 8 batters. Batters are hitting .310 against him with 2 doubles and 2 home runs. Pool has pitched 11.0 innings, surrendering 12 hits, 6 earned runs and 6 walks, striking out 12 batters in the process. He has given up 3 doubles and 2 triples, batters hitting .286 off him.