Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern baseball team was back at Warren Turner field Friday afternoon, playing host to the Newman Jets. This is the first MIAA series played in Joplin of the 2024 season. In the first game of the series,
Cole Gayman and
Keaton Anderson combined for the one-hit shutout as the Lions won 15-0 in seven innings due to the run rule. With the win, MSSU improves to 15-4 (3-1 MIAA) on the year.
Cole Gayman led the defense to a 1-2-3 first inning, retiring the Jets in order. Wasting no time, the Lions got the offense rolling in their half of the first.
Drew Townsend led things off with a single to center, then
Henry Kusiak drew a walk to put runners at first and second for
Will Doherty. He didn't miss the pitch he liked, crushing a double to left-center to score both runners. After a couple of outs,
Wyatt Morgan brought home Doherty to make it 3-0 with one inning played.
Garrett Rice was at the plate in the third inning with runners on second and third, then proceeded to drive in
Treghan Parker on a single through the right side. A batter later,
Chayton Beck hit a ground rule double to right-center to score another, then
Drew Townsend drove in MSSU's third run of the inning with a single to center. One more run was scored by the Lions in the inning, coming from a
Henry Kusiak sacrifice fly, 7-0 Lions.
After a scoreless fourth inning,
Henry Kusiak got one hit closer to the Missouri Southern all-time hits record with a home run that was no doubt right off the bat. Later in the inning,
Will Doherty sped home on a wild pitch to make it 9-0. Back-to-back bases loaded walks scored two more runs for the Lions, helping them to an 11-0 lead after five played.
Picking up where they left off,
Ethan Clark singled through the right side to score
Henry Kusiak to kick off the sixth. Then later with the bases loaded,
Wyatt Morgan cleared the bases with a double to right-center, making it 15-0 Southern. That would end up being the final score, as the contest ended after seven innings due to the run rule.
Cole Gayman had another stellar outing, picking up the win after tossing 5.0 scoreless innings, giving up just 1 hit while striking out 6 batters.
Wyatt Morgan went 3-4 at the plate, driving in 4 runs and scoring 1 himself.
Drew Townsend also picked up three hits, recording an RBI and a run scored also.
Henry Kusiak is now 3 hits from tying, 4 from breaking the Missouri Southern all-time hits record.
The teams will be back at Warren Turner Field Saturday for game two of the series. First pitch for Saturday's contest is scheduled for 1:00pm.
