SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team used an eight inning performance from Grant Woods and three hits apiece from Dylan Koch and David Chew picking up a 12-6 victory in the opening round of the MIAA Final Four Tournament against Northeastern State. The Griffons used a six run sixth inning helping them seal the victory. The Griffons improve to 31-18 with the victory and will play Central Oklahoma or Emporia State on Friday, May 9 at 11 am.

The game saw 21 hits and four total home runs between the two teams with MWSU moving on to tomorrow’s game.

The Griffons jumped on the RiverHawks in the first inning when Cody Childs walked and back-to-back singles by Koch and Chew and a throwing error helped the Griffons go up 2-0 after one inning. The scored stayed that way until the 3rd when Koch walked and advanced to second on a balk. He later scored on a Chew single to left field giving the Griffons the 3-0 lead after three innings of play.

In the sixth the RiverHawks tied the scored getting three runs on three hits. Cody Robinson hit a two run homer tying the score at three after five and a half.

The Griffons responded nicely in their half of the sixth loading the baseas with two out. The Griffons got a break as an error by the NSU second baseman allowed Koch and Will Carter to score giving the Griffons the 5-3 lead. The next batter Trevor LaHonta hit a two RBI single and then Ryan Degner followed that up with a two RBI homer giving the Griffons the 9-3 lead after six innings.

In the seventh Dylan Koch led off with his first homer of his career and Jake Schrader got an RBI single giving the Griffons the 11-3 lead after eight. The Griffons got the run they need in the 8th on a double by Chew scoring Koch giving them the nine run cushion which they needed as NSU scored eight runs in the 9th making things interesting.

On the mound Woods pitched eight innings to earn the win. He improves to 6-2 while Mason Queen came on to earn a one pitch save. It was Queen’s fifth save of the season.

For the RiverHawks Cody Robinson was three for five with a home run and three runs driven in. Kyle Singleton also hit a home run going two for four and driving in two runs. NSU falls to 26-27 with the loss.

— MWSU Sports Information —