Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern baseball team hosted their home opener against the St. Cloud State University Huskies on Friday, February 7. The Lions trailed by one as they entered the bottom of the ninth.
Jake Leeker pinch-hit and sealed the game with a walk-off, two-run home run, clinching a 3-2 victory.
Missouri Southern (4-0) | St. Cloud (0-1)
Cole Gayman started for the Lions, striking out six Huskies ending each inning and finishing with a total of nine strikeouts over 7.2 innings of work.
The score remained tied at 0-0 until St. Cloud broke the deadlock with a solo home run in the fifth inning.
In the sixth,
Cy Darnell led off with a single to left field and advanced to scoring position when
Drew Townsend followed with a hard-hit single to first base.
Ethan Clark then tied the game at 1-1, driving in Darnell with a sharply struck single through the 5-6 hole.
The Huskies took the lead in the eighth inning with a sacrifice squeeze bunt, making it 2-1.
Michael Moore entered midway through the inning with two outs and retired St. Cloud with a strikeout.
In the ninth,
Jake Leeker pinch-hit and launched a two-RBI home run over the left field fence, scoring
Nate Mieszkowski, who had singled to right center, to secure a walk-off victory.
Ethan Clark went 3-for-4 with three hits and one RBI.
Drew Townsend was 2-for-4 with two hits.
Jake Leeker was 1-for-1 with a two-RBI home run. The Lions totaled nine hits in the game.
Michael Moore earned the win, striking out one in his inning of work.
Cole Gayman pitched 7.2 innings, recording nine strikeouts while facing 28 batters.
Up Next:
The Lions will continue their series on Saturday, February 8, as they host the St. Cloud State University Huskies for game two. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM at Warren Turner Field.
Stat Tracker:
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