FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mar. 9, 2007

No. 11 Grand Valley State scores 8 runs in 9th to defeat Lions 11-4

Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Lions took a 4-3 lead into the ninth inning against the No. 11-ranked Grand Valley State Lakers, but the Lakers capitalized on three Lion errors and scored eight runs to rally and defeat the Lions 11-4 Friday night (Mar. 9) at Joe Becker Stadium.

After Dan Skirka reached on an error to begin the ninth, Lee VanStreain singled to left and Skirka and VanStreain advanced to second and third off another Lion error.  Spud McKenzie then singled in both runs to give the Lakers a 5-4 lead off Southern reliever Aaron Jenkins. 

The Lakers would tack on six more runs in the inning to take home the seven-run victory.

Southern trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth but gained the lead when Kyle Cupp singled home Scott Klassen and Juan Hernandez to put the Lions up 4-3.

Starting pitching ruled the day for the most part after the first two innings, as the Lakers scored three runs in the first but were held scoreless until the ninth.  The Lions tallied a run in each of the first two innings but didn't crack the scoreboard again until the eighth inning.

Lions' starter Michael Meyer was solid after a rocky first inning.   Meyer pitched six innings and only three runs on four hits and no runs and only one hit after the first.

Grand Valley hurler Vince Rizzi also turned in a good outing by going seven innings and giving up only two runs on eight base hits.

Hernandez had a stellar day hitting and in the field, going 3-3 at the plate and also making a spectacular diving catch in center field that prevented at least a double off the bat of McKenzie leading off the fifth inning for Grand Valley.

The Lions will play two tomorrow at the Larry Hickey Classic, starting with another matchup with Grand Valley at 9 a.m.  Southern will then face off with Morningside (Iowa) about 30 minutes after the contest with the Lakers.