ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team dropped its third straight game Tuesday as they lost a non-league game to the University of Mary, 7-2, at the Spring Sports Complex.  MWSU falls to 2-6 this season, while Mary improves to 1-0.
 
It was pitchers dual early in the game as the Griffon didn't get their first hit until the fourth inning and the Crusader first hit came in the fifth.  Griffon starter Brian Tan had seven strikeouts through five innings before UMary finally got to him for three runs in the top of the sixth.
 
Missouri Western got one run back in the seventh inning when Alex Rice was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 3-1, but the Griffs didn't get any more runs as they left the bases full.  The Crusaders then scored two runs in each of the next two innings to put the game away.  MWSU final run came on a sac fly by Ryan Niese in the ninth.
 
Gustavo Gonzalez had two of MWSU's four hits, while Alex Crouch and Colby Tam each had one double.
 
Tan (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound as his final line was 5.1 innings pitched and he gave up three runs on five hits.  Tan struck out eight and walked one.
 
Missouri Western is on the road this weekend as they play a three-game series at Rogers State.  The Griffons and Hillcats play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon, and they play a single game Sunday at 1:00 p.m.