Down 3-1 in the fifth inning, Nate Ramler lifted a three-run home run to left field that gave the Griffons (9-6, 2-3) the lead for good on the way to a 5-3 win over No. 11 Missouri Southern (15-2, 8-1).

Tony Loeffler led off the Griffon fifth with a single, followed by Michael Schulze’s single throught the right side. Andrew Pieper struck out in a pinch-hit at bat that brought Ramler to the plate with two on and one out. Ramler blasted a shot over the left field fence that put Western on top 4-3.

Ethan Ward (3-1) walked the lead off batter and was shaky through the first three innings, surrendering one Lion run in the first and two more in the third. Ward settled down after the third, shutting Southern out from the fourth through the eighth to earn his third win of the season. Jake Jones (1-1, 3) entered in the ninth and would have retired Southern in order if not for a Spencer Shockley error at first base with two down. Jones struckout the final batter to earn his third save of the season. Ward allowed seven hits and three earned urns, striking out two and walking three.

Western added an insurance run in the sixth when Grant Fink grounded out, scoring Loeffler from third. Griffon hitters chased Cody Griebling (4-1) from the game in the sixth. Griebling entered the game without a blemish on his record, a 0.87 era and 28 strikeouts. The Griffons pounded out 10 hits and reached on four walks.

Ramler finished the day 3-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Schulze was 2-5 with a run scored and Shawn Egge finished 2-4.

The Griffons and Lions will do it again Saturday in a double header beginning at 1 p.m. The two teams conclude the series on Sunday with a nine inning game scheduled to start at noon.

— MWSU Sports Information —