JOPLIN, Mo. —A strong seven-inning performance from Jacob Weirich plus a six-run fifth inning equated to an 11-9 Griffon Baseball victory over Missouri Southern in game two at Warren Turner Field.

Weirich (2-4) recorded nine strikeouts— three shy of his season-high of 12 vs. Emporia State on April 23. The Missouri Western offense faced an early 2-1 deficit, but an RBI knock through the middle by Nick Keller in the fourth tied the game once Ryan Neise came around to score. Now with a new ballgame, MWSU (13-31, 9-23 MIAA) fought furiously in the fifth to claim a definite lead.

Brenden Andersen anihilated a three-run home run to right-center field to put Missouri Western up, 5-2. Chaz Verduzco drove in Hunter Olson with a sacrifice fly to center field. Later in the inning and up 7-2, Brady Holden's single through the right scored Keller, who had just drove in Hunter Rumachik with an RBI single to center. 

The Lions (27-21, 16-16 MIAA) came back to life with three runs in the seventh to trim the score to 10-6, Griffons. Now only ahead 10-7 in the ninth, an extra insurance run courtesy of a Jared Munk RBI single to left put MWSU back on the board. However, Southern second baseman Treghan Parker crushed a two-run shot to right center in the bottom half of the frame to put his Lions right back into the thick of things.

Up 11-9 and with a runner first via a walk, relief pitcher Jeremy Schneider bunkered down and struck out shortstop Nate Mieszkowski on a 3-2 count, cementing a rubber match for game three. 

NOTABLES

• Brady Holden: 3-fo-6, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 R
• Jared Munk: 3-for-5, 1 BB, 1 RBI, 1 R
• Alex Crouch: 2-for-5, 1 BB, 2 R
• Brenden Andersen: 2-for-5, 1 HR (9) 3 RBI, 2 R
• Hunter Olson: 2-for-5, 1 2B, 1 R
• Hunter Rumachik: 3-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R
• Ryan Neise: 2-for-5, 1 R
• Three Griffon batters recorded three hits while eight collected two hits or more

NEXT UP

Game three's rubber match and the 2022 season finale for Missouri Western is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.