Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern baseball team was back at Warren Turner Field Friday evening, playing host to #19 Central Oklahoma. The visitors took game one by a score of 7-5 to improve their MIAA record identical to Southern's. With the loss, the Lions fall to 28-9 (15-6 MIAA).

Both teams had a runner on in the first frame but neither came around to score. The Bronchos were the first on the board, plating two runs in the second inning and another in the third. 

Missouri Southern had a solid third inning as well, tying things up with three runs of their own. Garrett Rice led off with a single up the middle, then advanced to second on a passed ball. After an out, Drew Townsend also hit one up the middle, scoring Rice to get MSSU on the board. With two outs in the inning, Henry Kusiak sent one over the left field wall for a two-run shot, tying the game at 3-3. 

UCO quickly answered back, scoring one run in the fourth to take the lead back. Things rolled right along into the seventh, when the Bronchos scored three more to extend their lead to 7-3. The Lions scored a pair in the seventh as well, coming from a Drew Townsend sacrifice fly and a Will Doherty ground out. Despite a couple more chances, the score remained the same after nine, ending 7-5 in favor of Central Oklahoma. 

Henry Kusiak was 2-4 at the plate, recording 2 RBI with his home run in the third. Garrett Rice also had a pair of hits in four appearances, scoring twice on the night. Drew Townsend drove in two runs on one hit, drawing a walk and scoring a run as well. 

The teams will be back in action on Saturday, as game two of the series is scheduled for 1:00pm at Warren Turner Field. 
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