Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Baseball threw convention out the window in a day-two split with No. 17 Missouri Southern. The Griffons forced extra innings in game one on a bases loaded walk and took game two thanks, in large part, to a passed ball and an error.
GAME 1: MWSU 1, #17 Missouri Southern (8 innings)The Griffons tied the game at one in the bottom of the seventh but gave up what proved to be the game-winning home run in the eighth to drop their third straight, 2-1.
Zach Taylor's walk in the bottom of the seventh pushed
Ryan Degner home to tie the game at one. With the bases still loaded,
Dylon Koch's bunt was fielded by the Missouri Southern catcher, who promptly stepped on the plate for the force out and to send the game to extra innings. A two-out, solo home run won it for the Lions in the eighth with a double play ending the game. After
Orencio Fisher flied out to lead-off the eighth,
Trevor LaHonta singled to center. Degner ended the game by hitting into the double play.
Mike Calimeno took the loss for the Griffons. He pitched two and a third in relief of
Banks Born. Born went the first five and two thirds, giving up one run on six hits.
GAME 2: MWSU 2, #17 Missouri Southern 0 The Griffons took advantage of some Missouri Southern miscues in the sixth to score the game's first and only runs in a 2-0 win over the No. 17 Lions.
Trevor LaHonta scored the first run on an RBI single down the left field line by
Cody Childs. LaHonta and
Dylon Koch had both moved up a base before Childs' single on a passed ball. One batter later,
Orencio Fisher hit into a fielder's choice in a pinch hit at bat for
Cosimo Cannella that allowed Koch to score. Fisher's hit looked like a possible double play that would have ended the inning but the short stop didn't step on second, allowing Childs to advance to second and Fisher beat out the throw down to first.
It was enough for the Griffons who had just four hits in the game. A.J. Martinez went all seven innings, giving up just three hits for his first complete game shutout of the season. He moved to 4-0 on the year with the win and Missouri Western improved to 18-11 and 12-7 in the MIAA. The two teams wrap up the series Sunday with a single game scheduled for 1 p.m.
