FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 27, 2007

Lions sweep a pair from Minnesota-Duluth

Game One Box | Game Two Box

Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Lions got their first two wins of the 2007 season in impressive fashion Tuesday (Feb. 27 by sweeping the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs at Joe Becker Stadium.  The Lions rallied to win the first game 14-7 and then routed the Bulldogs 8-2 in the nightcap.

The opener saw the Lions fall behind 4-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth after UMD scored a run in each of the first two innings and added a pair in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Bloms and an RBI single by Luke Johnson.

The Lions' first tally came in the third when Scott Klassen walked to score Luke Lawver from third.

Southern (2-2) tied the score in the bottom of the fourth when the Bulldogs walked in two more runs and Lawver scored on an infield single by Klassen.

The Bulldogs (2-4) scored three to regain the lead in the fifth before the Lions fought back with one run in the bottom of the fifth and then erupted for nine runs in the sixth inning.

MSSU scored seven runs before the Bulldogs recorded the first out in the sixth.  The big inning featured RBI doubles from Juan Hernandez and Klassen, along with a two-run single from Brett Velliquette.  UMD also walked in their fourth run of the game when Cliff Wheeler took a free pass that plated Matt Mantle.

Lucas Vestal pitched 1 1/3 innings and allowed no runs to get the win.  Tim Garceau was charged with four runs in the crucial sixth inning to take the loss for UMD.

Michael Meyer picked up the win in game two for Southern by pitching six solid innings and allowing only two runs on seven hits.  Meyer struck out four and walked only one.

The Lions jumped on the Bulldogs early by plating one run in the third on an RBI double by Wheeler that scored Henry Adams and then broke through with another huge inning in the fourth by scoring seven runs on seven hits.

Kyle Knight and Klassen both singled to lead off the inning and came around to score on an RBI single from Mantle.  Mantle then got in scoring position by stealing second and scored on a single from Adams. 

David Chaney and Lawver also had run-scoring singles in the fourth before Knight came through with the big blow of the inning, a three-run double to left center that scored Lawver, Jeff Katchmar and Chaney.

Corey Goblirsch got the start for UMD and allowed one run on two hits in 2 1/3 innings pitched.

The Lions will next be in action at the Larry Hickey Classic for a doubleheader with Morningside (Iowa) on Saturday beginning at noon.