JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri Southern (4-5) fell to #13 Minnesota State-Mankato (3-1) in a narrow 9-8 loss on Monday at Warren Turner Field.
Missouri Southern scored six runs in the sixth inning but could not overcome the early lead established by Mankato.
Southern fell to Mankato with a final score of 9-8. After a slow start, Southern put their first run on the board in the bottom of the second inning when
Blake Jones hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing
Cy Darnell to score. The score was 3-1 in favor of Mankato after the second inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Lions mounted a significant rally, scoring six runs to take the lead.
Ethan Clark was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on Darnell's double. A series of walks and a fielder's choice advanced runners, setting up a ground-rule double by
Jason Lazo that brought in two more runs.
Brayden Luikart then doubled to right field, driving in another two runs to cap the inning. Missouri Southern tied the game 7-7 after the sixth.
MSSU added another run in the seventh inning.
Will Potter doubled to left field and scored on a single from Jones. However, Minn. St. Mankato responded with a run in the seventh and another in the eighth, including a home run by C. Yearsley, to regain the lead 9-8.
Despite a clean defensive effort in the ninth inning, Southern was unable to overcome Minn. St. Mankato's narrow lead. The final score was Minn. St. Mankato 9, Lions 8.
Jackson Gamble made the start for Missouri Southern, pitching 2 innings and allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits with 4 strikeouts.
Keaton Anderson relieved, throwing 3 innings, but surrendered 4 runs on 7 hits, including 3 home runs.
Marcus Young pitched 1 scoreless inning, striking out 2 batters and allowing no hits.
Caden Carter faced only one batter, issuing a walk that came around to score.
Luke Beverlin followed with a clean inning, striking out one and conceding a single hit.
Michael Mulhollon concluded the pitching effort with 2 innings, giving up 1 run on 2 hits, striking out 2 batters.
Jason Lazo delivered two hits and drove in two runs, including a double with the bases loaded.
Brayden Luikart added two doubles while also collecting two RBIs.
Cy Darnell scored twice and contributed a double with an RBI.
Blake Jones tallied three RBIs, contributing a sacrifice fly and a base hit.
