In a battle between the nations top pitching team (St. Cloud State) and the nations top hitting team (Missouri Western) hitting prevailed as #10 Missouri Western defeated the #4 Huskies 5-3 Monday afternoon. The Griffons had nine hits improving to 31-5 on the season.
Western used four pitchers in the victory with starter Mark Spreckels going 3.2 innings giving up six hits and two earned runs. He gave up his first run in the second inning when Michael Jurgella doubled to right center and scored on a Travis Enger single to right center giving St. Cloud a 1-0.
The Griffons answered in the bottom of the second with five hits and four runs. MWSU got four two out hits which included a two RBI single scoring Michael Schulze and Shawn Egge. Missouri Western took a 4-1 lead after two.
The Huskies scored their second run in the third when Jurgella doubled down the right field line scoring Garrett Fischer. St. Cloud Stat cut the lead to 4-3 in the fifth when Brian Hansen homered to right field off Mason Queen. Queen pitched well going four innings giving up four hits and one earned run. He got the victory for the Griffons improving to 1-0 on the season.
MWSU answered in the bottom of the 5th when Nate Ramler tripled to right center and scored on a passed ball giving Missouri Western a 5-3 lead after five.
The Griffons got out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the 8th as Jerad Hawkins came in and struck out the Fischer ending the threat. Logan Hollingsworth picked up his 9th save of the season going one inning with one strikeout and one walk.
The Huskies fall to 22-4 on the season as the pounded out 10 hit. Jurgella went 3-for-5 while Fischer went 2-for-5. Scott Lieser falls to 7-2 going seven innings. He gave up nine hits and five earned runs while striking out three.
Western had nine hits with Schulze, Ramler and Egge each getting two.
The Griffons return to action on Wednesday, April 17 when they travel to Hays, Kan. to take on the Fort Hays State Tigers in a mid-week doubleheader. Game time is set for 2:00 pm from Larks Park in Hays, Kan.
— MWSU Sports Information —