FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Apr. 17, 2007

Lawver tosses one-hit shutout as Lions split with Southwest Baptist

Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box

Bolivar, Mo. - Senior Luke Lawver gave the most solid pitching performance of the season by tossing a one-hitter as the Missouri Southern Lions defeated the Southwest Baptist Bearcats 4-0 in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon
(Apr. 17) in Bolivar, Mo.  But the Bearcats came back to win a slugfest in the nightcap, 12-11.  The twinbill was originally scheduled to be played in Joplin one week ago (Apr. 10), but inclement weather forced the games to be reset for Bolivar.

Lawver went the full seven innings, retiring 10 of the final 12 batters he faced.  He struck out four and walked only two.  Lawver now is tied for the team high with four victories and has a team-best two complete games on the season.

Michael Matthews singled home the Lions first run in the second inning in his first career start.   The Lions came back with three more in the third, keyed by a two-run single by Kyle Cupp.

SBU starter J.R. Smith pitched six innings, giving up four runs, three earned in the defeat.

The second game saw Lions' starter Matt Habermehl give up seven earned runs in three innings of work in his first career start on the mound.

The game was tied 11-11 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but the Bearcats (14-20, 7-12 MIAA) won the game on a walkoff single by Andrew Rickman that scored Skyler Powers.The Lions (15-23, 8-15 MIAA) trailed 10-3 heading into the sixth inning, but
surged ahead with an eight run inning.  Lawver followed up his great pitching performance in the opener with a three-run homer and Cliff Wheeler also had a two-run triple in the sixth inning.

Aaron Jenkins also hit a two-run home run for Southern that scored Cupp in the second inning.

The Lions will next play a four-game weekend series in St. Joseph, Mo. against the Missouri Western Griffons, beginning with a seven and nine inning doubleheader at 1 p.m.