FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mar. 10, 2007

Lions split with Grand Valley State and Findlay

Game one box | Game two box

Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Lions used a five-run fifth inning to get a 10-7 win over the Findlay Oilers, but fell earlier in the day to the No. 11-ranked Grand Valley State Lakers when the Lakers scored six in the eighth inning to snap a 3-3 tie to defeat Southern 9-6 Saturday afternoon (Mar. 10) at Joe Becker Stadium. 

Trailing Findlay 3-0 after three innings, the Lions (6-7) used an RBI single from Juan Hernandez and a run-scoring double by Scott Klaasen to pick up two runs in the fourth to come within 3-2. 

After the Oilers added a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to go ahead by three runs again, the Lions exploded for five in the bottom of the inning to go up 7-5.  The first three Lions reached in the inning and Kyle Cupp, who led off the inning with a single, scored on an error.  Kyle Knight also had a two-run double that plated Henry Adams and Matt Mantle.

Luke Lawver went six innings and allowed only five runs and three earned to pick up the victory.  Knight pitched two scoreless innings to get the save.

In the opening game of the day, Lions starter Lucas Vestal got through the first three innings without allowing a hit and Mantle hit an infield single in the second that scored Knight to give the Lions a one-run lead.

But Vestal ran into trouble in the fourth when he hit two of the first three batters of the inning and Hinke doubled to left center to score two runs.  Strutz then doubled home another run to give the Lakers a 3-1 lead.

The score stayed that way until the sixth when Southern tied the score on the strength of RBI singles from Justin Heuther and Cupp. 

But just like the night before, the eleventh-ranked Lakers struck late with a big inning by scoring six times in the bottom of the eighth, keyed by another two-run double from Strutz.

The Lions tried to rally in the ninth by putting the first three runners on and scoring a run when Hernandez was hit by a pitch that forced a runner home to make it 9-4.  Klassen then drove a run home with a sacrifice fly and Heuther drove in a run with a fielder s choice, but that was as close as the Lions got as Bowman came in relief and got the final three outs to seal the victory for the Lakers.

Southern will next play a single game tomorrow (Mar. 11) at 12:30 against Grandview.