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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Joplin, Mo. - Jacob Taylor drove in three runs with his record-setting eighth triple of the season as the Missouri Southern Lions rallied from an eight-run deficit to stun the No. 3-ranked Emporia State Hornets in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon (Apr. 25) at Joe Becker Stadium. With the victory, the Lions have assured themselves of a spot in the MIAA Postseason Tournament for the first time since 2002. The Hornets needed eight innings to defeat the Lions in the opener, 5-2. Things looked bleak for the Lions as they trailed 7-0 and then 11-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth of the seven-inning game. But the Lions had plenty of fight left and exploded for nine runs in the sixth to take the lead. The Lions plated five runs before the Hornets recorded the first out of the inning. The inning began with a single by Taylor and a walk to Derek Ezell before Juan Hernandez drove in both runners with a triple. After Justin Beal walked, Hoke came up and drove in Hernandez with an RBI single that cut the lead to 11-6. Kenny Hart and Trent Owens kept it rolling with RBI singles that made it a three-run game. The bases were loaded with one out when Taylor came through with the big blow, a three-run triple that tied the score. Taylor then scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run on a sacrifice fly from Ezell. Beal came in from shortstop to record the final three outs in the seventh to earn his first save of the season, while Corey Wells picked up win No. 4. The opener began in favor of the Hornets (38-8, 26-5 MIAA) as Jacob White singled home Caleb Williamson in the second inning for the first run of the game. Taylor tied the score for the Lions with a run-scoring single that plated Caldwell in the bottom of the third. The game remained even until the Hornets broke through with a run in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk to Williamson. The Lions (31-16, 21-10 MIAA) were again able to tie the score in the bottom of the inning as Justin Beal doubled with two out and scored on a single from Shayne Hoke. With the game still tied of the scheduled seven-inning contest, the Lions had a golden opportunity to win the game by loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. But a shallow fly out and an inning-ending double play ended the threat. The Hornets then seized the momentum and came through and took the lead on a two-run single by Mike Sharp. A sacrifice fly from Williamson provided an insurance run for the Hornets. Garrett Groom took the loss for the Lions after giving up three runs in 7 1/3 innings. The two schools will conclude the four-game set tomorrow (Apr. 26) with a single nine-inning game at noon.
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