ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Two tough tests against nationally ranked teams later, Missouri Western did something they haven't so far this season — play while on top.

Despite grabbing their first lead of 2022, Griffon Baseball couldn't hold on in a 9-3 loss to Ouachita Baptist.

Missouri Western shot out to a quick start in the top of the second after junior Hunter Rumachik ripped a double down the right field line. After two-straight MWSU strikeouts, sophomore Jared Munk sent an infield single to the shortstop, scoring Rumachik to go up 1-0. However, the lead didn't last long.

Junior Griffon pitcher Matt Kesel found a fluent start to the game when he struck out the side in the first. The Tigers regrouped in the third and tallied one run to tie the game at 1-1. Missouri Western left a leadoff double by senior Alex Crouch stranded, and Ouachita Baptist blasted back by scoring four more runs in the fourth.

Trailing 5-1 in the fifth, MWSU utilized Munk's leadoff single with a single to right by senior Brady Holden. Now down 5-2, the Griffons stayed within three until things went sideways in the sixth. The Tigers got on base due to an error by Crouch at short and scored four more runs to padden their lead.

Junior Riley Higgins walked on a 4-1 count with one out in the seventh, setting up one of the Griffons' last gasps at coming back. Sophomore Zach Hanlan pinch-hit for senior Chaz Verduzco, hammering a double down the left field for his first RBI of the season. Alas, the Tigers took control of the rest of the game.

The Griffons struck out 14 times and left eight runners on base. The MWSU pitching staff combined for 10 punchouts of their own, with Kesel leading the way with four. All 10 of Ouachita State's strikeouts belonged to senior pitcher Beau Burson. 

Up Next 

No rest for MWSU (0-3), as they take on St. Cloud (0-1) on Friday at 11 a.m. back in Arkadelphia. The Huskies handled the Griffons 6-0 last time these two met back on Feb. 17, 2020 in Joplin, Missouri.