Hays, Kan. - The Missouri Southern baseball team continued their conference-opening series with Fort Hays State Saturday afternoon. Game two of the series was cut short, as the Lions beat the Tigers 23-5 via the run-rule. In the win,
Henry Kusiak passed Stephen Crane on the MSSU all-time hits leaderboard, recording his 248th career hit. The current MSSU record is 257, set by David Fisher from 1989-92.
The Lions wasted no time getting on the board, as
Drew Townsend led off with a single and later scored thanks to a
Will Doherty hit through the left side. Next up,
Treghan Parker doubled home two more runs to give Southern a 3-0 lead. The Tigers responded with a run in the first and another in the second, but
Treghan Parker hit a solo home run over the left field wall in the third.
Things really broke open in the fourth, as the Lions scored 10 runs in their half of the inning.
Garrett Rice kicked off the scoring with a double that scored
Wyatt Morgan. A few batters later,
Will Doherty was hit by a pitch and
Treghan Parker drew a walk, both with the bases loaded, leading to two runs. Despite a fresh arm on the mound,
Nate Mieszkowski followed with a grand slam to left field. A Tiger error later in the inning allowed a couple more runs to score, and
Chayton Beck drove in the final run of the inning on a single to left.
Nate Mieszkowski picked up another RBI with a single in the fifth, making it a 15-2 Lion lead. In the sixth inning, Missouri Southern recorded their second grand slam of the game, as
Henry Kusiak put one over the left field wall. Fort Hays State scored a few in their half of the sixth, but the Lions responded with four more in the seventh for a 23-5 final score.
Treghan Parker went 2-3 at the plate, recording a double and a home run with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored.
Nate Mieszkowski finished with 5 RBI on 2 hits, one of those being a grand slam.
Henry Kusiak also hit a grand slam, recording 4 RBI and 3 runs scored.
Garrett Rice went 3-4 at the plate, picking up a pair of doubles with 3 runs scored.
Trent Harris was credited with the win, pitching 5.0 innings and recording 7 strikeouts.
The final game of the series will take place on Sunday, February 25 at 1:00pm..
