MARYVILLE, Mo. — Missouri Southern baseball (9-10, 4-5 MIAA) fell to Northwest Missouri (16-6, 7-2 MIAA) in a close 4-3 decision Monday afternoon at Bearcat Baseball Field.
Missouri Southern now has a record of 9-10 and 4-5 mark in the MIAA. Northwest Missouri has a record of 16-6 and 7-2 in league play.
Missouri Southern opened the scoring in the fifth inning with
Jake Leeker doubling to left field. A sacrifice bunt by
Cy Darnell advanced Leeker to third, setting up
Will Doherty's single to center field that drove in Leeker and
Brayden Luikart, who had reached on a hit by pitch. This gave Missouri Southern a 2-0 lead after the fifth inning.
Northwest Missouri responded in the sixth inning. After Leonardo May and Frank Gall drew walks, both advanced on stolen bases. John Connors then doubled to bring both runners home, tying the game. Wilmer Jimenez followed with a two-run home run, giving Northwest Missouri a 4-2 lead through six innings.
In the ninth inning, MSSU attempted a comeback.
Aiden Hinkle singled and
Jacob Filip doubled to put a runner in scoring position. Filip's pinch runner,
Cole Adair, scored on a single by Leeker, narrowing the deficit to one run. However, the rally ended there as the game concluded with a final score of Northwest Missouri 4, MSSU 3.
Doherty drove in two runs with his fifth-inning single. Leeker was effective at the plate, recording two hits including a double and adding an RBI.
Brayden Luikart demonstrated speed on the bases, successfully stealing a base and scoring a run.
Michael Mulhollon (1-2) pitched 5.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on two hits while striking out four batters and issuing four walks. He threw a total of 91 pitches, 55 of which were strikes, and finished with a WHIP of 1.15.
Jackson Gamble contributed with 2.1 innings of relief, yielding just one earned run on one hit, a home run, while striking out four without issuing a walk.
MSSU next returns to Joplin, Missouri, to host Washburn in a three-game series Friday through Sunday at Warren Turner Field. Game times are slated for 3 p.m., 1 p.m., and 1 p.m., CT, March 13-15.
Arvest Bank is the season-presenting sponsor for Missouri Southern baseball.
