|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Joplin, Mo. - The Fort Hays State Tigers hung on to defeat the Missouri Southern Lions 5-4 in the opener of a four-game weekend series Friday night (Mar. 20) at Joe Becker Stadium. The Lions trailed 5-2 in the bottom of the eighth but loaded the bases on a walk, hit by pitch and an error with nobody out. Derek Ezell was then hit by a pitch that forced in Zach Caldwell that brought the Lions to within two runs. Southern made it 5-4 when Shayne Hoke laced a single to left field to score Skyler Rawlins that made it a 5-4 game with just one out. But a failed squeeze attempt led to an inning-ending double play when Justin Beal popped up to the pitcher, who then doubled off Jacob Taylor at third to end the threat. Reliever Garrett Morgan retired the Lions in order in the ninth inning to preserve the victory for the Tigers. The Lions (13-11, 6-5 MIAA) manufactured a run in the second when Ezell led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Juan Hernandez and then crossed the plate on an RBI groundout by Hoke. Lion starter Ryan Verfurth held the Tigers hitless through the first three innings before Fort Hays (14-13, 6-7 MIAA) grabbed the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Greg Bieker and an RBI double from Alex Harvey. Southern quickly tied the score in the bottom of the inning when Ezell hit a lead-off single and then scored on a towering sacrifice fly to center by Justin Beal. An RBI double by Brett Becker and a run-scoring single from Greg Crowe in the fifth helped the Tigers regain the lead at 4-2. Hays added another run in the sixth when AJ Levanduski singled with two out, stole second and scored on a double by Ryan Majercik. Verfurth pitched 7 2/3 strong innings in a losing effort, allowing five runs and striking out three. Eric Gilliland was solid for the Tigers before the hiccup in the eighth inning. Gilliland got the win by going seven innings and surrendering four runs with six strikeouts. Ezell went 2-3 for the Lions with one RBI and two runs scored. The Lions and Fort Hays will play a doubleheader tomorrow (Mar. 21) beginning at 1 p.m. |