JOPLIN, Mo. — The 19th-ranked Missouri Southern baseball team got a lead-off home run, but visiting Drury had a five run-fifth inning that put the game away as the Lions fell 17-8 today to the Panthers on Warren Turner Field.
The Lions (15-6) got a lead-off home run from Davin Gummere that put Southern on top 1-0 after the first. Gummere finished with a run and two RBIs in the game, while Dexter Swims had a 2-for-5 day with a bases-clearing triple in the ninth. Matt Miller was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Troy Gagan had a pair of hits, including a home run, his third of the season. Mike Million had an RBI, while Freddie Landers, Easton Fortuna and Joe Kinder both scored runs.
Cole Gacke started and went four and a third, but was saddled with the loss to move to 1-1 on the season. Austin DesRoche, Logan VanWey, Cole Woods, Bradly Hershey, Brennon Covington, Joey Reeves and Colin Chandler threw in relief.
Drury (9-9) got a 3-for-6 day at the plate from Ethan Owens with three RBIs and two runs scored. Three others had two hits each.
After Gummere’s home run in the first, Drury scored a run in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth before their five-run fifth.
The Lions answered back with two in the fifth and two in the sixth to get within four (9-5) going to the seventh. Gummere walked with the bases loaded in the fifth for the first run and Million added a sacrifice fly. Gagan homered in the sixth and Miller added an infield single to score Landers.
The Panthers scored a run in the eighth and seven in the ninth, before Swims’ bases-clearing triple in the ninth.
Southern will be back in action this weekend as the Lions play host to Fort Hays State in a weekend series.
