JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri Southern Baseball (3-4) split the opening day of its home 2026 MSSU Lion Classic Friday at Warren Turner Field. MSSU bested McKendree, 7-2, in the Lions' 2026 home opener before dropping a 5-3 decision to Indianapolis in the Friday finale.
Minnesota State-Mankato beat UIndy, 2-1, in game two of the 2026 MSSU Lion Classic Friday.
Missouri Southern now stands 3-4 in 2026 following a 1-1 day at the 2026 MSSU Lion Classic. MSSU will wrap the tournament against McKendree Sunday (1 p.m., CT) and No. 13 Minnesota State-Mankato Monday (Noon, CT).
Minnesota State-Mankato and McKendree are set to face off in Day 2 of the 2026 MSSU Lion Classic Saturday at 3 p.m., CT, weather permitting.
MSSU 7, McKendree 2
MSSU secured a 7-2 victory over McKendree (1-3) on Friday morning, thanks to a decisive three-run eighth inning. Missouri Southern totaled six hits, including three doubles, while limiting the Bearcats to six hits and two errors.
Missouri Southern secured a decisive 7-2 victory over the Bearcats, bolstered by strong performances throughout the game. In the second inning, Southern took the lead when
Jason Lazo, hit an RBI double, bringing home
Blake Jones, who had reached base on a walk. Southern led 1-0 after the second inning.
The fourth inning saw the Lions extend their lead.
Jacob Filip walked, advanced on a single by
Ethan Clark, and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by
Jason Lazo. This made the score 2-0 in favor of MSSU through four innings.
The Bearcats narrowed the gap in the fifth inning with a run, but the Lions responded in the bottom half.
Cy Darnell doubled, advanced to third on a sacrifice, and scored on a sacrifice fly by
Brayden Luikart, keeping Southern ahead 3-1 after five innings.
In the eighth inning, the Lions capitalized on the Bearcats' defensive errors, scoring three unearned runs.
Blake Jones reached on an error, and Darnell,
Will Potter and Luikart contributed to the scoring, increasing the lead to 7-2 after the eighth.
Southern held McKendree scoreless in the final inning, securing the win with a final scoreline of MSSU 7, Bearcats 2.
Walker Sweet delivered a strong performance for the Lions, pitching six innings and allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out eight batters. Sweet recorded the win, improving his record to 1-1, and maintained a WHIP of 1.00 over his outing.
Jackson Gamble provided relief, pitching 1.1 innings, striking out two, and allowing just one hit with a WHIP of 1.82.
Michael Mulhollon closed the game successfully, earning a save with 1.2 scoreless innings, striking out two and allowing just one hit, while posting a WHIP of 0.83.
Jones contributed significantly by scoring two runs and drawing two walks. Lazo drove in two runs with a double, and also scored a run. Darnell scored twice, added a double, and drove in one run.
Indianapolis 5, MSSU 3
MSSU fell to Indianapolis (2-4) with a final score of 5-3 on Friday, as the visiting team capitalized on a three-run eighth inning to secure the win. Missouri Southern managed six hits, including a triple, but was unable to overcome the late rally by UIndy.
MSSU faced Indianapolis in a closely contested matchup. The Greyhounds took an early lead in the third inning when Solen Munson was hit by a pitch and later scored on Carter Thomas' double, putting the visitors ahead 1-0. Southern responded in the fifth inning.
Blake Jones was hit by a pitch and scored after a series of errors and a sacrifice fly from
Jason Lazo, giving the Lions a 2-1 advantage after five innings.
The eighth inning saw Indianapolis regain momentum with three runs. Joey Humphrey homered, followed by a double from Chase Mason and an RBI single by Austin Pokley, pushing UIndy ahead 4-2. Missouri Southern could not capitalize in the bottom of the eighth despite a single from
Ethan Clark, leaving the score at 4-2.
In the ninth inning, the Greyhounds extended their lead with a solo home run by Brayton Bowen, making it 5-2. MSSU attempted a rally in the bottom of the ninth.
Cy Darnell singled and scored unearned on a sacrifice fly by
Brayden Luikart, but the effort fell short. Indianapolis sealed the win with a final score of 5-3.
Owen Schneider delivered an impressive performance, pitching seven innings with only one earned run, allowing five hits, and striking out five batters without issuing a walk. Schneider showcased control by throwing 52 strikes out of 79 pitches, achieving a WHIP of 0.71.
Michael Mulhollon faced challenges in relief, giving up three runs, including a home run, over 0.2 of an inning, with two strikeouts and a walk.
Luke Beverlin and
Kyle Kaempf each contributed briefly, with Beverlin allowing one hit and recording a strikeout in 0.1 of an inning, while Kaempf surrendered a solo home run and a walk in his brief appearance.
Marcus Young closed the game with 0.2 of an inning, yielding no hits and recording two flyouts.
Clark recorded a strong performance at the plate with two hits, including a triple.
Will Potter contributed offensively with a double, one RBI, and two walks. Darnell added two hits and scored a run, showcasing his ability to get on base.
