ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team rallied back from a four-run deficit to defeat Missouri Southern, 6-4, in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament Thursday night.
 
The bottom part of the Griffon order gave Missouri Western the lead and snapped a three and a half inning stalemate between the teams. Kody Matthews led off the bottom of the eighth with a leadoff single that chased Southern starter, Payton Walker from the game. The next batter, Jeremy Alvarado reached on a fielding error by reliever Austin Aspegren while attempting a sacrifice bunt to put two on with no one out. Brandon Downs successfully sacrificed both runners into scoring position before Alex Heuring gave the Griffons their first lead with a single through the left side. Ozzie Rodriguez then drew a walk loaded the bases with a walk before Andy Rieth struck out looking. With two outs, Orencio Fisher was hit by a pitch for the insurance, sixth run.
 
The Griffons trailed 4-0 after two innings, but jumped back in the game with three in the third and one in the fourth.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Missouri Western will face top seeded and MIAA regular season Champion Central Missouri on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Mules swept Missouri Western two weeks ago in a three-game series in Warrensburg and won their opening game of the tournament, 10-3 over Northwest Missouri State.
 
NOTABLES
- The win was Missouri Western's 35^th of the season, second most in the Buzz Verduzco era and fourth most all-time
- Preston Bailey got the win in relief, pitching 4.1 and allowing four hits, no runs, striking out six and walking three
- Conner Schwienebart got his second save of the year, striking out three in a row after entering in relief in the ninth
- Three Griffon pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts, second most this season (15 vs. Pitt State)
- Three different players hit in the leadoff spot for Missouri Western (Landon Mason, Michael Babbitt and Rieth); Mason and Babbitt left with injuries
- Three different Griffons played third base (David Glaude, Babbitt and Jeremy Alvarado)
- Missouri Southern took two of three from Missouri Western March 18-20 in St. Joseph, winning 14-2 and 12-2
- Walker was charged with the loss after two-hitting the Griffons in a 12-2 win on March 19 in St. Joseph
 
IN THE BOX SCORE
- Bailey moved to 4-1 with the win, allowing 4 hits and no runs with 6 strikeouts in 4.1 innings
- Weston Caindec started, going 3.2 and allowing 4 runs on 5 walks and 4 strikeouts
- Fisher was 2-4 with two RBIs and a run scored
- Heuring was 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored