FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Apr. 26, 2009

Lions play Home Run Derby in 11-7 win over No. 3 Emporia State

Box Score

Joplin, Mo. -  The Missouri Southern Lions smashed three two-run homers in an 11-7 series finale win over the No. 3-ranked Emporia State Hornets Sunday afternoon (Apr. 26) at Joe Becker Stadium.  After entering the four-game series with a 14-game losing streak against ESU, the Lions win the series by taking three out of four from the Hornets.  With the win, the Lions handed the Hornets their first conference series loss of the season.

Kenny Hart and Skyler Rawlins entered the game tied for the team lead with eight homers each and both lived up their billing in this game.

Derek Ezell singled to lead-off the second, Hart promptly delivered a two-run homer that put the Lions up 2-0.  After Juan Hernandez followed that with a double, it didn't take long for Rawlins to again catch Hart as he also hit a two-run shot for a four-run lead.

Hart made it 5-0 with an RBI groundout in the third before Jacob Taylor continued the home run party with another two-run blast that scored Zach Caldwell for a seven-run advantage in the bottom of the fourth.

The Lions (32-16, 22-10 MIAA) weren't through in the fourth as Ezell hit a two-out double and scored on an RBI single from Hernandez.

Ezell helped the Lions continue the onslaught with a two-run double that scored Rawlins and Taylor to spark a three-run fifth that put the Lions ahead 11-0.

The third-ranked Hornets (39-9, 26-6 MIAA) refused to go quietly by scoring a pair of runs in the sixth and really making things interesting with a five-run ninth that made it a four-run game.  The big hit of the inning was a bases-clearing three-run double by Kenny Burkhead.

But Ryan Verfurth struck out Abe Steinbach with one runner on to end the game. Verfurth recorded the final two outs for the Lions.

Lion starter Justin Beal is now 4-1 after pitching six innings and allowing two runs to earn the win.  Beal held the Hornets to only two hits through five innings before being touched up for two runs in the sixth.

The Lions have already clinched a spot in the MIAA Postseason Tournament and will wrap up the conference regular season with a doubleheader against Southwest Baptist at 4 p.m. on Tuesday (Apr. 28) at Joe Becker Stadium.