The Missouri Western baseball team used a five run third inning capturing a 6-3 victory in game one of a four game series against the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Ryan Degner led the way with two hits and three RBI while Grant Woods went 5.1 innings giving up five hits and three earned runs. The Griffons improve to 14-12 overall and 10-9 in MIAA play.

Western opened up the third inning getting three straight hits from Cody Childs, Trevor LaHonta and Dylan Koch. Child scored on a throwing error by the third baseman and then Degner blasted his 5th homer of the season giving the Griffons a 4-0 lead. Jake Schrader later scored on a ground out back to the pitcher by Jeremy Monty giving the Griffons the 5-0 lead.

In the fourth the Griffons used three Loper errors and a hit scoring one more giving them the 6-0 lead after three and a half innings of play.

The Lopers finally got to Woods in the 4th when Danny Droll got hit by a pitch and a walk by Anthony Pacheco. With two outs Josh Kiger blasted a three run homer cutting the Griffons lead to 6-3 after four. The rest of the game the Lopers got runners on base but the Griffons used solid pitching by Woods and Tyler Sanders getting the victory.

Sanders picked up his fourth save of the season going 3.2 innings giving up three hits and striking out two. The Griffons left nine runners on base in the game.

The Lopers fall to 17-11 on the season and 11-10 in MIAA play. They had eight hits with Pacheco and Max Ayoub both getting two hits. Adam Peters falls to 3-3 going 2.2 innings giving up six hits and with four strikeouts. Alex Sosa went 6.1 innings giving up one hit and one unearned run.

The two teams will play two seven inning contests on Saturday, March 29 with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 pm in Kearney, Neb.

— MWSU Sports Information —