ST. JOSEPH – A ninth inning rally lifted Missouri Western baseball team to a 10-9 walk-off win over Washburn in the finale of a three-game series on Sunday at Griffon Park.

Orencio Fisher scored the winning run, beating out a throw from center field off of Kody Matthews single with one down in the bottom of the ninth. Cosimo Cannella led off the Missouri Western half of the ninth with a walk then Nick Gawley tied the game with a home run to left. Fisher drew a walk on the next at bat before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ozzie Rodriguez. That set up Matthews rope into center that scored Fisher from second on a close play at the plate.

The Griffons jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, but Washburn tied it in the third and took the lead with two runs in the fifth then two more in the seventh and another pair in the eighth. The Griffons scored four of their own in the bottom of the seventh.

Landon Mason led Missouri Western with four hits in four at bats for Missouri Western from the leadoff spot. Gawley went 2-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Jeremy Alvarado drove in three in his one at bat, a pinch hit three-run home run in the seventh. Preston Bailey picked up the win, pitching 2.2 innings, striking out six and walking three. He gave up three earned runs on three hits. Starter Evan Jones went the first five innings, allowing five runs on five hits.

The win improved Missouri Western to 5-5 on the year, overall, and 1-2 in MIAA play. The Griffons continue MIAA play next weekend with a three-game series at Southwest Baptist.

— MWSU Athletics —