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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Lions began the MIAA season in style with a convincing sweep of the Missouri Western Griffons Monday afternoon (Mar. 2) at Joe Becker Stadium. The Lions routed the Griffons in the opener 15-4, then took the nightcap 4-2. After Adan Mercado gave the Griffons the early lead with a three-run homer in the first, the Lions took charge by scoring 15 of the game's final 16 runs. Derek Ezell and Justin Beal each hit RBI doubles in the bottom of the first as the Lions scored three times to tie the score. Trent Owens gave the Lions the lead with a two-run blast two innings later for a 5-3 Southern advantage. An infield single by Justin Beal and a run-scoring base hit from Ezell helped the Lions score three in the fourth before taking advantage of three Griffon errors in the fifth to plate three more runs and go up 11-3. Kenny Hart then hit a two-run towering homer in the sixth over the scoreboard in right center that scored Jacob Taylor as the Lions continued to pile on. Skyler Rawlins doubled home Juan Hernandez and Michael Zurmehly for the Lions' final tallies. After a rough first inning, Lion starter Ryan Verfurth threw exceptionally well. Verfurth pitched the full seven innings and struck out five, with no earned runs allowed after the first. Owens was 3-4 with four RBI in the opener to lead the Lions' charge. The Lions made it a sweep of the Griffons in the second game behind a strong effort from starter CJ Maffei. Maffei lasted seven innings and allowed only one earned run with six strikeouts. The Griffons (7-7, 0-2 MIAA) scored an unearned run in the first for a 1-0 lead before the Lions tied the score in the second on a lead-off home run by Owens. Southern (8-6, 2-0 MIAA) staged a two-out rally in the fourth when Taylor singled, stole second and came around to score on a single by Zurmehly that gave the Lions a 2-1 lead. Hernandez and Zach Caldwell each hit RBI singles in the sixth that gave the Lions a pair of valuable insurance runs and a 4-1 lead. Mercado brought the Griffons to within two runs with an RBI single in the seventh, but Corey Wells shut the door with two scoreless innings and struck out three to pick up his first save. Rawlins and Taylor each had three hits in the nightcap for the Lions. Southern will next host Truman for a four-game, three-day series beginning on Friday evening (Mar. 6) with a nine-inning game at 5 p.m.
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