The Missouri Western baseball team extended its winning streak to 10 before falling in the series finale against the Lincoln Blue Tigers. The win streak tied the longest win streak since 2005. Western won game one 2-1 behind a complete game from Nik Jurado before falling 10-6 in 10 innings. Western sits at 15-7 overall and 8-4 in MIAA play.
Game 1: MWSU 2, LU 1
A defensive substitution in the top of the seventh preserved a 2-1 victory for the Griffons in game one of the double header and Lincoln. Andrew Pieper gunned out the tying run at the plate with one out in the top of the seventh lifting the Griffons to its 10th consecutive victory.
Despite getting out hit 11 to six by the Blue Tigers the Griffons were able to capitalize on two errors scoring two unearned runs. In the first inning David Chew singled up the middle and scored on throwing error by the Blue Tiger third baseman giving Western the early 1-0 lead.
The Blue Tigers answered in the top of the third getting three hits with Ryan Rohmiller singling up the middle scoring Caleb Kemna. The Griffons got the game winning run in the bottom of the third when Grant Fink doubled and scored on a error by the shortstop.
The rest of the game belonged to Nik Jurado as he improved to 3-0 going all seven innings. He struckout six giving up 11 hits and one earned. Six different Griffons got hits in the game as they left six runners on base.
Rohmiller, Isaac Cater, Kendall Ware and Cody Huff all had two hits for Lincoln. They left six runners on base. John Bisges falls to 0-5 going all six innings. He gave up six hits while striking out two.
Game 2: LU 10, MWSU 6 (10 innings)
The Griffon baseball team looked like they were going to win its 11 game in row taking a 3-1 lead over the Lincoln Blue Tigers after three innings. Unfortunatly the Blue Tigers got the bats going claiming an extra inning 10-6 victory over the Griffons.
Western scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning tying the score at five pushing the contest to extra innings. Nate Ramler hit an RBI single and Grant Fink hit one to the right side scoring Andrew Pieper from third tying the score at five.
In the tenth Western pitchers struggled giving up four hits and walking two, giving Lincoln the 10-5 lead. In the bottom of the tenth Western got a homer from Jake Graham cutting the lead to 10-6. Western put two runners on but a questionable double play ended the game giving Western its first loss in 11 games.
The Griffons had nine hits with Shawn Egge going 2-3 with one RBI. Eight other Griffons had a hit. Chris Allen pitched 3.1 innings giving up four hits and three earned runs. Mason Queen falls to 1-1 giving up an earned run in the tenth.
Lincoln improves 2-21 on the season and 2-13 in MIAA play. They pounded out 15 hits with Andrew St. Pierre and Cody Huff each getting four hits. Gatlin Wiggan pitched seven solid innings giving up two earned runs while striking out four. Chris Pfau improved to 2-5 going two innings in releif.
The Griffons return to action on Tuesday, March 27 when they take on the Emporia State Hornets in a double header. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm from the MWSU Baseball Field in St. Joseph, Mo.
— MWSU Sports Information —