FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Apr. 4, 2008

Lions score early, but can't hold on and fall at Northwest Missouri

Box Score

Maryville, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Lions scored seven runs in the first inning, but the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats bested that with nine runs in the bottom half of the first and went on to defeat the Lions 10-8 Friday afternoon (Apr. 4) at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo.

The Lions (10-19, 8-7 MIAA) scored the seven runs on only four hits in the first. Juan Hernandez led off the inning with a double but was later thrown out at home. The Lions had two batters hit by a pitch with the bases loaded that accounted for two runs and Gabe Wyatt had a run-scoring single in the first. Hernandez also had a two-run single that chased Northwest starter Brett Harvel after only 2/3 of an inning.

The Bearcats responded with nine of their own keyed by a pair of doubles that plated three runs by Ben Malick. Nick Pfeiffer, Brandon Kirsch and Ryan Bledsoe also had RBI doubles in the inning for the Bearcats (17-11, 7-6 MIAA).

Cliff Wheeler hit a solo home run in the fourth to bring the Lions to within 9-8, but the Bearcats scored a run in the sixth inning to go back in front by two runs.

Lion starter Matt Mantle rebounded from the tough first inning to pitch 5 1/3 innings and allowed only one more tally while striking out four.

Ben Briant got the win for the Bearcats by pitching 5 1/3 innings of relief and giving up one run.

The Lions will continue their four-game weekend series against the Bearcats with a pair of seven-inning games tomorrow (Apr. 5) beginning at 1 p.m.