The Missouri Western baseball team split a pair of games on Saturday afternoon against the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers. The Griffons came back in game one winning 9-6 but gave up a 3-0 lead in game two falling 4-3. Missouri Western sits at 15-13 overall and 11-10 in MIAA play.

Game 1
MWSU 9
UNK 6

In game one the Griffons got a two run homer in the 7th inning extending the Griffons lead to 9-6. Mason Queen pitched well for the Griffons in relief going 4.2 innings giving up four hits and one earned run with five strikeouts. He improves to 2-3 on the season.

The Griffons got two runs in the first inning when Trevor LaHonta doubled and scored on a ground out by David Chew. Later in the inning Jake Schrader singled in Ryan Degner giving the Griffons the 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the first UNK answered with four runs which included a three run homer by Max Ayoub.

Missouri Western stayed calm getting two runs on two hits in the second inning tying the score at four. Cody Childs got an RBI double and LaHonta singled in Childs tying the score at four.

The Lopers got on more run in the second taking a 5-4 lead but the Griffons responded once again tying the score when Jeremy Monty singled in Degner. In the 5th Anthony Pacheco homered giving the Lopers the 6-5 lead after five innings.

Once again the Griffons responded taking the lead in the 6th. Childs got a bunt single scoring scoring Jake Scharder and then Hunter Weiss scored on a throwing error by the pitcher giving the Griffons the 7-6 lead. In the seventh Scharder blasted a two run homer giving the Griffons the 9-6 victory.

The Griffons had nine hits with Scharder getting three. Childs and LaHonta both had two in the contest.

The Lopers had 12 hits with Landanger getting three. Pacheco, Jayke Brock and Josh Kiger all had two hits. Aaron Smith got the loss going 4.1 innings giving up four hits and three earned run.

Game 2
UNK 4
MWSU 3

After jumping out to a 3-0 lead in game two the Griffons gave up four unanswered runs falling 4-3. The Griffons gave up two runs in the fourth and two in the fifth in the defeat.

The Griffons scored their first run in the first inning when Ryan Degner doubled to left field scoring Dylan Koch from first base. In the third inning the Griffons scored their second run when Trevor LaHonta doubled and scored on a ground out by Degner.

In the fourth the Griffons took a 3-0 lead when Jeremy Monty singled and advanced to third on an error by the left fielder. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by Hunter Weiss giving the Griffons the 3-0 lead.

In the fourth the Lopers cut the Griffons lead to 3-2 on RBI singles by Pacheco and Danny Droll. In the fifth UNK took the lead for good was Drew Butler scored on a Josh Kriger double and then Kriger scored on a single by Pacheco giving UNK the victory.

Both teams had seven hits in the contest as the Griffons left six left on base. LaHonta and Koch each had two hits. Josh Lansangan went three innings giving up two earned runs and two hits while Tyler Sanders picked up the loss going three innings giving up five hits and two earned runs.

The Lopers Pacheco had two of the Loper seven hits while J. Smidt picked up the victory going 2.2 innings in relief. He gave up just one hit while striking out two. The Lopers fall to 18-12 overall and 12-11 in MIAA play.

The two teams will play the final game of the series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 pm in Kearney, Neb.

— MWSU Sports Information —