JOPLIN, Mo. — With the bases loaded, Griffon Baseball was one positive swing shy from possibly snagging their biggest win of the season.

Sunday's late-night loss in 10 innings to Quincy was sealed with a strikeout to end day two of the MIAA/GLVC Crossover with a 6-5 Griffon loss. The game was tied 4-4 after the Hawks overcame a 3-0 deficit. Quincy walked twice with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth to tie the game and set up both teams' first taste of extra innings in 2022.

Thanks to wild pitches and throwing errors, the Hawks scored two more runs on a sacrifice fly and passed ball. The Griffons kept it interesting with Courtney getting hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the tenth, eventually scoring after a Quincy error. The bases were jammed, but the Hawks jimmied their way out for the win thanks to 21 punchouts by their pitching staff.

Missouri Western took an early lead thanks to small-ball antics when Jared Munk stole home after a wild strikeout by Hunter Rumachik. Hunter Olson tacked on to the lead with an RBI double to drive in Will Courtney, putting MWSU up 2-0.

Next Up

The final day of the MIAA/GLVC Crossover concludes with MWSU (1-7) taking on Truman State (3-4) on Monday at 4 p.m. The Griffons grabbed a 19-9 win last time against the Bulldogs on March 15, 2016 in Kirksville. Missouri Western has dropped their last four games while Truman State's skid sits at three games.