JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri Southern baseball (14-10, 9-5 MIAA) secured a narrow victory over Fort Hays (9-16, 6-9 MIAA) with an 11–10 win Friday afternoon at Warren Turner Field.
Missouri Southern scored four runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by five home runs throughout the game, to edge out FHSU.
With the victory, MSSU improves to 14-10 overall following its fifth-straight win. The Lions are now 9-5 in MIAA conference action.
The Lions took an early lead in the first inning Friday when
Brayden Luikart was hit by a pitch and scored on a two-run homer by
Will Doherty.
In the second inning,
Ethan Clark doubled and
Jake Leeker followed with an RBI double, scoring Clark.
Aiden Hinkle then hit a two-run homer, bringing the score to 5–0 for MSSU.
The Tigers responded in the fourth inning, scoring four runs. Erick Ordonez's triple and subsequent RBI single by Justin Lipka cut the Southern lead to 5–4.
Fort Hays then tied the game in the fifth inning with a solo home run by Antonio Avila, making it 5–5.
The Lions regained the lead in the sixth inning. Leeker hit a solo home run, and after a pitching change, Hinkle doubled, scoring
Jason Lazo. Luikart's two-run homer then extended the lead to 9–5.
In the seventh inning, Lazo hit a two-run homer, increasing Missouri Southern's advantage to 11–8.
Despite the Tigers scoring in the eighth and ninth innings, the Lions held on for an 11–10 victory.
Hinkle recorded a standout performance with three hits, including a home run, driving in three runs and scoring twice. He was a single shy of hitting for the cycle.
Luikart contributed with a home run, two RBI, and crossed the plate twice. Leeker also hit a home run, added two RBI, and scored two runs. Lazo added to the offensive effort with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored.
Owen Schneider pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on nine hits and striking out three without issuing a walk.
Luke Beverlin entered in relief, pitching 2/3 of an inning and giving up one earned run on a home run.
Carter Stover (3-1) contributed by recording an out without allowing a hit, while
Marcus Young (third save in 2026) closed the game with 2 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits and striking out three.
The Lions presented All-American Missouri Southern shortstop Henry Kusiak his 2024 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove prior to Friday's game.
MSSU continues the MIAA series Saturday, hosting the Tigers in game two at Warren Turner Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m., CT.
