JOPLIN, Mo. — A six-run first inning from Missouri Southern set the tone for the rest of the Friday evening when Griffon Baseball lost 10-3 at Warren Turner Field.

Missouri Western (12-31, 8-23 MIAA) found the early lead in their frame of the first when Brenden Andersen doubled to right-center field to score Jared Munk. Hunter Olson made it a 2-0 Griffon lead with his sacrifice fly to center that scored Alex Crouch. One Missouri Southern (27-20, 16-15 MIAA) swing of the bat moments later took the Griffons' right lead away.

After the Lions loaded the bases against pitcher Jordan Akins (3-6), Southern designated hitter Ryan Doran cleared the bases with a double to right center. After an RBI single from left fielder Jordan Fitzpatrick made it a 4-2 Lion lead, second baseman Treghan Parker teed off on the first pitch he saw for a two-run blast to right field. 

Missouri Western scored its last run in the third when Crouch singled through the right side to score Brady Holden, trimming the deficit to 8-3. Southern scored two more runs in the seventh to keep MWSU at arm's reach. 

NOTABLES 

• Jared Munk: 2-for-4, 1 BB, 1 R
• Alex Crouch: 2-for-5, 1 R
• Jared Wells: 1.1 IP, 3 SO, 1 BB, 0 R

NEXT UP

Game two of the final series of 2022 is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.