FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2009

Big bats and excellent pitching lift Lions to double-header sweep of Pitt State

Game one box | Game Two Box

Joplin, Mo. - Zach Caldwell powered the Missouri Southern Lions to a doubleheader sweep of the Pittsburg State Gorillas by going 8-11 with four RBI Friday afternoon (Apr. 10) in Pittsburg, Kan. The Lions blanked the Gorillas 16-0 in the first game and then routed them again 12-3 in the nightcap.

Juan Hernandez singled home Jacob Taylor for the Lions' first run of the game in the first inning before scoring on a two-run double by Justin Beal for a 3-0 lead.

Beal doubled home another run and Taylor drew an RBI walk during a five-run outburst to put the Lions up comfortably 8-0 after two innings.

Skyler Rawlins and Taylor then each drove in a run in the third with sacrifice flies that gave the Lions a 10-run lead.

The Lions weren't through and added two more on a two-run single by Caldwell to jump ahead by 12 runs.

Southern plated four more runs in the seventh to close out the scoring.

Rawlins' sacrifice hit in the second inning was his school record-tying 12th of the season.

The Lions collected 22 hits in the opener, 18 of which were singles.

Carter Lance was magnificent on the mound for the Lions, going the full seven innings and allowing only a pair of hits and two strikeouts. Lance improved to 6-1 on the season and lowered his team-leading ERA to 2.84.

Caldwell helped the Lions (25-13, 17-7 MIAA) again jump ahead in the second game by leading off the game with a homer.

Derek Ezell then delivered a grand slam in the third inning as the Lions pulled out to a 5-0 advantage.

PSU (9-27, 6-16 MIAA) tried to make a game of it as Austin Kirkwood doubled home the Gorillas' first run in the bottom of the third before adding two more runs in the fourth to close the gap to 5-3.

Trent Owens doubled in a run in the fifth and Shayne Hoke singled in Hernandez as part of a three-run inning as the Lions took a commanding 9-3 advantage.

Southern then effectively put it away with two in the eighth inning and three more in the ninth.

The Lions got another solid starting performance from Garrett Groom, who lasted seven innings with only two earned runs allowed and two strikeouts.

Jeff Katchmar finished the deal with two scoreless innings in relief of Groom.

The Lions and Gorillas will conclude the four-game series with a doubleheader beginning at noon tomorrow (Apr. 11) at Joe Becker Stadium.