JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri Southern baseball (21-11, 16-6 MIAA) secured a 9-5 victory over Central Oklahoma (16-17, 7-12 MIAA) Thursday at Warren Turner Field. MSSU recorded three home runs in the game, contributing to its 15-hit performance.
Missouri Southern now holds a record of 21-11 and is 16-6 in the MIAA. The Bronchos have a record of 16-17 and are 7-12 in the MIAA.
Missouri Southern secured a decisive lead in the eighth inning, highlighted by solo homers from
Aiden Hinkle and
Will Doherty. Hinkle led off the inning with a homer to left field, and after a quick out, Doherty followed with another homer, extending Missouri Southern's lead to 8-5.
Earlier, the game was tightly contested, with Central Oklahoma briefly taking the lead in the second inning thanks to Trevor Rowe's two-run homer.
Missouri Southern responded in the third inning with a three-run surge, featuring a triple by Doherty that scored
Brayden Luikart, followed by a triple from
Jacob Filip that brought Doherty across the plate.
Jason Lazo's subsequent groundout allowed Filip to score, shifting the momentum back to Missouri Southern.
Despite Central Oklahoma's efforts to close the gap, Missouri Southern's offense proved too consistent, especially with Hinkle and Doherty each driving in two runs and contributing heavily to the team's total of nine runs. The strong defensive plays and timely hits secured the victory, quelling any late threats from the opposition.
Southern opened the scoring in the first inning with Filip's RBI single to right field, bringing Luikart home for a 1-0 lead. UCO responded in the second inning with Rowe's two-run homer, followed by an RBI single from Colton Ayres, giving UCO a 3-1 advantage.
Central Oklahoma took a 4-1 lead thanks to a sacrifice fly by Kade Sheldon, after three innings.
In the third inning, the Lions reclaimed the lead. Doherty tripled to center field, scoring Luikart. Filip followed with an RBI triple to right field, and Lazo grounded out to second base, driving in Filip. This offensive surge evened the contest at 4-4.
Southern took control in the fourth inning, scoring two runs off Doherty's single to center field, which plated
Cy Darnell and
Aiden Hinkle. This extended the Lions' lead to 6-4.
The Bronchos narrowed the gap in the fifth with a sacrifice fly by Noah Smallwood, making it 6-5.
Hinkle's solo home run in the sixth inning increased the Lions' lead to 7-5.
In the eighth inning, Hinkle added another homer to left field, and Doherty followed with a solo shot, pushing the score to 9-5.
Carter Stover closed out the game, keeping the Bronchos scoreless in the final innings, securing the Lions' 9-5 victory.
Hinkle had a standout performance, scoring three runs, hitting two home runs, and collecting two RBI.
Doherty contributed significantly with four hits, including a home run and a triple, while driving in four runs. Filip added two hits and a triple, contributing two RBI and scoring once.
Darnell bolstered the offense with three hits, including two doubles, and crossed the plate once.
Owen Schneider pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and five runs, with four of them earned. He struck out four batters and walked four, throwing 97 pitches with 57 strikes. Despite the 10 hits, Schneider managed to record seven flyouts and five groundouts.
Stover provided strong relief effort, pitching 3 1/3 innings without allowing a hit or a run, earning a save while striking out three and maintaining a WHIP of 0.00.
MSSU next faces UCO in game two of the series Friday at 2 p.m., CT. The game was moved up from its original 5 p.m. start due to the threat of inclement weather.
Missouri Southern softball's games were also affected by the forecasted inclement weather. The Lions will face Northeastern State in a doubleheader on Friday, beginning at noon, CT. The doubleheader was originally scheduled for Saturday.
Arvest Bank is the season-presenting sponsor for Missouri Southern baseball.
