The Missouri Western baseball team scored 20 runs and pounded out 21 hits on their way to two victories over Northeastern State. The Griffons won game one 6-4 behind a complete game from Tyler Sanders while Ryan Degner led the Griffons to a 14-6 victory in game two going 4-for-4 with six RBI. The Griffons improve to 4-3 on the season and 2-0 in MIAA play.

Game 1
Missouri Western 6
Northeastern State 4

The Griffons got a solid outing from junior Sanders as he went the complete game giving up just one earned while strikingout five. He improves 1-1 on the season making his first caeer start. The Griffons also got a solid performance from Trevor LaHonta as he went 3-fo-4 with three runs scored and one RBI. LaHonta had a triple, homerun and single in the game.

The Griffons opened the game scoring four runs on four hits in the first. LaHonta led the game off with a triple and then scored on a double by Jeremy Monty. Monty advanced to third on a ground out by David Chew and scored on a wild pitch. Later in the inning a Cody Childs double to left field scored Andrew Ramirez and Hunter Weiss giving the Griffons the 4-0 lead. The score stayed that way until the bottom of the second when LaHonta reached on an error by the shortstop and scored on a double steal making the score 5-0 after two.

In the top of the third the Griffons defense had some troubles allowing three unearned runs on two hits. The Griffons made errors at second and third base in the inning.

Missouri Western remained calm and in the bottom of the fourth LaHonta hit his first career home run giving the Griffons a 6-3 lead. In the seventh the RiverHawks made things interesting scoring one but left two runners on as Cody Begovich ended the game on a flyout.

The Griffons had seven hits in the contest while Northeastern State had five. Tyler Wilkins led NSU with two hits while Kyle Shambaaugh got the loss going 4.1 innings giving up six hits and five earned runs. He falls to 1-1 on the season.

Game 2
Missouri Western 14
Northeastern State 6

In game two the Griffons scored 10 first inning runs on their way to a 14-6 victory. Degner went 4-for-4 in game two with six RBI which included two doubles. Freshman Tyler Tuepker picked up his first victory going four innings striking out five.

After LaHonta reached on an error by the left fielder the Griffons strung together four straight hits including a David Chew RBI single and a Degner 2 RBI double. The Griffons scored 10 runs on seven hits, capitalizing on two errors.

After scoring one in the first inning the RiverHawks scored two on three hits in the second cutting the Griffon lead to 10-3 after two.

The score stayed that way until 6th when the Griffons tacked on another run on a Degner single to center field. The RiverHawks continued to battle scoring three more in the 7th cutting the lead to 11-6 after six and a half.

The rest of the game belonged to the Griffon scoring three more in the next two innings picking up the eight run victory. The Griffons had 14 hits with five players getting at least two hits. LaHonta finished the game with two hits and three runs scored.

The RiverHawks fall to 2-4 on the season and 0-2 in MIAA play. Zach Poehl got the loss going just 2/3 of an inning giving up 10 earned runs on seven hits. NSU had 11 hits with four players getting two hits. Cody Robinson went 2-for-4 with two RBI.

The two teams will wrap up their series with a doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm at the Griffon Baseball Field on the campus of Missouri Western State University.

— MWSU Sports Information —