Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Baseball team will play at home for the first time in the 2024 season this Friday and Saturday. Originally, this three-game series was scheduled to take place Friday-Sunday, but Sunday's game was moved to Saturday due to potential weather. Friday will feature a single 9-inning game starting at 3:00pm, and Saturday will feature a doubleheader of two 9-inning contests beginning at 12:00pm.

Game Information:
Teams: Missouri Southern (3-2) vs Ouachita Baptist (3-0)
Dates: February 9 & 10 (Friday & Saturday - doubleheader)
First Pitch: 3:00 PM on Friday, 12:00 on Saturday, game three will follow on Saturday
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Warren Turner Field
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Scouting the Lions
Missouri Southern brings a 3-2 record into the home-opening series, playing a mid-week contest at Southwestern Oklahoma State and four at the Dugan Invitational last Thursday-Sunday. They began the tournament with a big 7-2 victory over #17 Southern Arkansas. Nearly a combined shutout, SAU hit a home run in the ninth to get on the board. Cole Gayman was the winning pitcher, tossing 6.0 scoreless while giving up just 1 hit and striking out 7. The offense exploded in game two of the weekend, winning 16-4 over Henderson State. Another strong offensive performance occurred on Saturday as the Lions defeated Arkansas-Monticello 10-6. Ouachita Baptist took the final game of the tournament, 8-1. On 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. 

Cole Gayman was named MIAA, Regional, and National Pitcher of the Week earlier this week for his performance against #17 Southern Arkansas. In that contest, Gayman gave up just one hit over his 6.0 innings pitched. That hit was given up to the leadoff batter of the game, not surrendering a hit after that. He recorded 7 strikeouts against the Muleriders, tossing 6.0 shutout innings for the win. 

Will Doherty currently leads the team with a batting average of .389, recording 7 hits in 18 at-bats with a home run, 6 RBI and 4 runs scored. Drew Townsend has reached base 16 times between 6 hits and 10 walks. He has also scored 4 runs and driven in 4 as well. Leading the team with 7 RBI is both Treghan Parker and Garrett Rice. Parker is 6-20 with 4 runs scored, and Rice is 5-16 with 5 runs scored. 

Wyatt Morgan tied the program's single game record for walks last weekend, drawing 5 against Arkansas-Monticello. Jacob Davis was credited with the win against UAM, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings. He surrendered just 3 hits, striking out 6 in the process. 

Scouting the Tigers
The Ouachita Baptist Tigers enter this weekend with a perfect 3-0 record. They too played in the Dugan Invitational last weekend, defeating Northeastern State twice and Missouri Southern in their third contest. Between the two games against NSU, the Tigers won by three runs total. Ouachita Baptist trailed 7-6 heading into the final frame of the first game, but Cole Bedwell hit a three-run home run to give the Tigers a 9-7 lead that would end up being the final score. Their second game against Northeastern State was a 7-6 final, as OBU scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning. In the tournament finale, the Tigers defeated the Lions 8-1 to stay undefeated. 

Through three games, Michael Quinones leads the Tigers with a .462 average, going 6-13 at the plate. He has recorded a pair of doubles and a couple of walks as well. Cade Burris leads the team with 6 RBI on just 2 hits. Four different Tigers have recorded one home run so far this year.

Chase Oberle threw the game against Southern, tossing 6.1 innings where he surrendered 6 hits and an earned run, striking out 3 Lion hitters. Luke House and Cooper Timmons started the other two games of the series, House with a 4.76 ERA and Timmons with a 4.91 ERA. Dustin Bermudez and Tag Pacot were the others credited with wins, Bermudez tossing 3.0 innings giving up just 1 hit and 0 earned runs, while Pacot threw just 1.0 inning with 0 hits and 0 runs.