JOPLIN, Mo. — The 11th-ranked Missouri Southern baseball team went up 2-0 after four, but four unanswered runs from No. 21 Central Missouri put the game away as the Lions fell 4-2 to the Mules tonight at Warren Turner Field.
Southern (23-9, 14-5 MIAA) had four players with a hit each, led by Mike Million who had an RBI double and a run scored. Matt Miller had an RBI double of his own, while Troy Gagan had a hit and a run. Dexter Swims had the Lions’ other hit.
Zach Parish started and went seven innings, striking out three and allowing one earned run, while scattering four hits. Bradly Hershey was saddled with the loss in relief to move to 4-1 on the season. Logan VanWey and Cam Bednar threw in relief, as well.
Central (21-10, 13-6 MIAA) was led by Mason Janvrin who went 2-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored. Ben Kelsch started and went three and a third, but Jonathan Sprinkle threw five and a third of hitless relief, striking out nine.
The Lions started the scoring in the fourth when Troy Gagan doubled to start the inning. After a ground out, the Lions got back-to-back doubles from Million and Miller to go up 2-0 at the end of four.
Central scored a single run in each of the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings to put the game away.
The Lions threatened in the ninth with a pair or runners aboard, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
