ST. JOSEPH – The 23rd-ranked Missouri Western baseball team won 8-2 on Sunday to claim a three-game series with Nebraska-Kearney, two games to one. It was the Griffons’ 10th win in their last 11 games and improved the team’s record to 31-12 overall and 23-9 in the MIAA.

After each team scored a run in the first, Missouri Western broke the tie in the fourth with two runs. Cosimo Cannella put the team up 2-1with an RBI double then scored the team’s third run on an error in the fourth. The Griffons added another in the sixth on a Jeremy Alvarado home run off the left field foul pole. It was Alvarado’s 13th home run of the season. After another run in the seventh, the Griffons added three more in the eighth to increase the cushion.

David Glaude went 4-5 on the day with three RBIs and two runs scored. Nick Gawley, Cannella, Kody Matthews and Ozzie Rodriguez all had two hits each. Alex Clavet picked up the win on the mound to improve to 5-1 on the year. Clavet went six and a third, surrendering the Lopers’ two runs on five hits. He struck out six and walked two. Preston Bailey picked up an unorthodox save, his fourth of the year. He went the final two and two-thirds after entering with just a two-run lead. Bailey didn’t allow a hit while striking out four and walking one.

Missouri Western’s win and a Central Missouri loss moved the Griffons within two games of the first place Mules. MWSU is one game behind second place Washburn.

— MWSU Athletics —