After nine Missouri Western seniors were honored, pitchers took center stage in a doubleheader between Missouri Western and Southwest Baptist. Brandon Simmons kept the Bearcats off the plate through the first six innings in game one, and SBU’s Justin Pasichnyk stymied the Griffons in game two. The day one split left the Griffons 30-13 overall and 23-11 in the MIAA.
GAME 1: MWSU 4, SBU 2
Bubba Dotson got things going for the Griffons in game one with a two-run blast to right field. Dotson sent an RBI-triple to right center in the fourth before Tony Loeffler singled Dotson home for the Griffons’ fourth run.
Simmons limited the Bearcats to six hits and two runs through seven innings. Simmons struck out two and walked two, allowing the only two runs to score in the seventh. Simmons gave up a lead off walk to Ros Wolfe before retiring the next two Bearcats. Brandon Cox’s single sent Wolfe to thrid and a Landon Young double brought Wolfe and Cox home. With the tying run at the plate, Simmons got Tyler Christophel to ground out to end the game and secure his 10th win of the season.
Dotson was 2-2 with two runs scored and three RBI. Spencer Shockley finished 2-3 with a run scored.
GAME 2: SBU 2, MWSU 1
Nik Jurado went all nine innings for Western, striking out 12, but the Griffons struggled at the plate against Pasichnyk. Nate Ramler’s solo home run to left center provided the only run.
Western nearly rallied in the ninth after Jack Bond led off the inning with a pinch-hit single to left. SBU went to the bullpen after Bond’s single, bringing in closer, Jacob Sullinger. Spencer Shockley came up and just missed a bunt single, but picked up the sacrifice, advancing Bond to second. Ramler then grounded out but did put the tying run on third base. Sullinger coaxed Jimmy Smelcer to ground out for his third save of the season.
Jurado picked up his first loss of the season (7-1), going nine innings and allowing two runs on eight hits, while fanning a dozen. No Griffon batter managed more than one hit.
Seniors Jack Bond, Matt Bergin, Nik Jurado, Kyle Peterson, Tony Loeffler, Andy Stewart, Jake Graham, Andrew Pieper and Jarad Bell were honored prior to game one. The Griffons and Bearcats will do it again on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
— MWSU Sports Information —