JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team opened its 2021 season Sunday as they split two game on day one of the MIAA/GLVC Crossover at Missouri Southern in Joplin. The Griffons run-ruled Missouri S&T in the opener as they beat the Miners 14-3 in seven innings, but they lost the nightcap to No. 19 Missouri Southern in 10 innings, 4-2.
GAME 1 – Missouri Western 14, Missouri S&T 3
MWSU scored six runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back as they built an 11-1 lead through four innings. The Griffons had eight extra base hits as eight of the nine starters had at least one hit and scored one run.
Bailey Crump finished the game 3-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and four RBI.
Alex Crouch also went 3-4 with three RBI and one run, while
Ben Tsui added two hits, two runs and two RBI.
Gustavo Gonzalez,
Maurice Bruce and
Chaz Verduzco also had two hits each for Missouri Western.
Roy Robles earned the win on the mound as he allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings. He struck out nine and walked two.
GAME 2 – No. 19 Missouri Southern 4, Missouri Western 2 (10 innings)
Missouri Western let a 2-1 lead with two outs in the ninth inning slip away in game two as MSSU's Clay Milas doubled home a run to send the game to extra innings and then Southern's Tommy Stevenson hit a two-run, walk-off home run off Griffon reliever
Jacob Standridge.
Crouch put MWSU up 1-0 in the third inning with an RBI double before the Lions tied the game in the fifth. Missouri Western regained the lead, 2-1, in the eighth inning on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt before Southern rallied for the win.
Gonzalez and
Andrew Meier had two hits each to lead the Griffons in game two.
Jacob Weirich made the start and allowed one unearned run and two hits in six innings. He struck out nine and walked five.
UP NEXT
Missouri Western will play two more games Monday as they take on Missouri S&T at 11:00 a.m. in Joplin before driving to Pittsburg, Kansas for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch against Pittsburg State.
