JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri Southern baseball (13-10, 8-5 MIAA) secured a decisive 12-4 victory over Newman (4-21, 2-13 MIAA) on Tuesday in midweek conference action at Warren Turner Field.
The game featured two home runs and 12 walks for the Lions, contributing to their commanding win.
Missouri Southern now has an overall record of 13-10 and is 8-5 in the conference. NU has a record of 4-21 and 2-13 in the conference.
MSSU took an early lead in the first inning as
Aiden Hinkle scored following a single by
Blake Jones, giving the home team a 1-0 start. In the second inning,
Cy Darnell homered to left field, extending the lead to 2-1 after the Jets managed to tie the game briefly.
Ethan Clark added to the Lions' advantage with a solo home run in the fourth inning.
In the fifth, the Lions capitalized on a fielding error by NU, as
Jacob Filip scored on a sacrifice fly by
Jake Johnson, followed by Jones scoring on an earlier error to increase the edge to 5-1.
The sixth inning saw Jones drive in another run with a single, maintaining the home team's momentum at 6-2.
MSSU broke the game open in the seventh with a five-run explosion to increase the advantage to 11-4, highlighted by a series of walks and a key single by Jones.
Will Doherty and
Brayden Luikart also contributed with runs scored during the inning.
The eighth inning added another run to the Lions' tally as
Cole Adair scored on a single by Doherty.
Keaton Anderson led Missouri Southern State's pitching with a solid performance, pitching 5 1/3 innings, allowing six hits, and two earned runs, while striking out four and walking two, for his first win of the season.
Kaylor Darnell contributed with 2/3 inning, giving up three hits and two earned runs, striking out one.
Gabe Perry delivered two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no hits allowed, maintaining a perfect WHIP.
Braden Ray closed the game with a flawless inning, recording two flyouts and a groundout, keeping NU scoreless.
Aiden Hinkle scored three runs, drew three walks, and stole a base.
Brayden Luikart recorded two hits, including a double, and stole two bases.
Blake Jones tallied four hits and three RBI. Darnell hit a home run, scored twice, and drove in a run.
MSSU next hosts Fort Hays for a three-game series at Warren Turner Field starting Friday. All three games are set for 1 p.m., CT first pitches.
Arvest Bank is the season-presenting sponsor for Missouri Southern baseball.
