Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern baseball team opened up MIAA action Friday afternoon, taking on the Fort Hays State Tigers on their home turf. In the conference opener, the Lions put six hits over the outfield wall to help them to a 14-10 win over the Tigers. That ended FHSU's nine game win streak, and makes MSSU 13-2 (1-0 MIAA) on the year.

The Tigers were the first on the board, hitting a home run in the bottom of the first inning. Wasting no time, the Lions responded with a couple runs of their own, scored by Nate Mieszkowski and Wyatt Morgan. FHSU plated a couple more in the third, but Chayton Beck made it a one run game with a solo shot to left-center. 

Although the hosts responded in the fourth with a run, Missouri Southern used a big fifth inning to propel them to an 8-5 lead. Will Doherty hit a two run shot to left-center, then Wyatt Morgan hit a single to score Treghan Parker, followed by a two run Drew Davis home run. Fort Hays State scored another couple of runs in the fifth, but Nate Mieszkowski drove in a run to make it 9-7. 

A couple of innings later, Ethan Clark hit a single to right to score two runs, and the Tigers also plated a run in the bottom of the seventh. The eighth was a big one for MSSU, as Will Doherty led off with his second home run of the day, then Nate Mieszkowski and Wyatt Morgan hit back-to-back solo shots later in the frame. FHSU was able to score a couple more in the ninth, creating a 14-10 final score. 

Will Doherty finished 3-6 at the plate, collecting 3 RBI and 3 runs scored with 2 home runs. Nate Mieszkowski had a 3-hit game, driving in 2 runs and scoring 2 himself. Drew Davis went 2-5 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored, and Wyatt Morgan also finished with 2 hits, 3 runs, and 1 RBI. 

Game two of the series is scheduled for 1:00pm on Saturday, February 24. Game three will follow at the same time on Sunday. 
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