JOPLIN, Mo. — Sunday's 13-5 Griffon Baseball loss to Missouri Southern marked not only the end of the series but the end of the 2022 season for Missouri Western.

Despite a strong scoring start in the first three innings, the Lions (28-21, 17-16 MIAA) leaped ahead of the Griffons thanks to a six-run sixth inning. Down 11-2, the Griffons stayed alive with three runs on the board in the seventh. All three runs were courtesy of Alex Crouch's second-to-last final swing as a Griffon — a three-run homer to right field to score Jared Munk and Brady Holden as well. 

The Lions tacked on two more runs in the eighth to keep a healthy lead over MWSU. Brenden Andersen homered for a second-straight day with a solo shot in the second. Andersen also recorded another RBI with a fielder's choice grounder to third to score Holden.

Pitcher Zack Cushing (3-4) ends his first season with Missouri Western pitching five innings while giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts. 

NOTABLES

• Alex Crouch: 2-for-5, 1 HR (16), 3 RBI, 1 R
• Brenden Andersen: 1-for-4, 1 HR (10), 2 RBI, 1 R
• Jared Munk: 1-for-4, 1 R
• Chaz Verduzco: 1-for-4, 1 2B
• Hunter Rumachik: 1-for-3, 1 2B

Missouri Western ends 2022 with a 13-32 overall record and a 9-24 mark in the MIAA. The Griffons finish Head Coach Buzz Verduzco's 23rd season at the helm with an 11th-place finish in the MIAA. The Griffons graduate six seniors: pitcher Trey Asher; outfielder Brady Holden; infielder Alex Crouch; outfielder Alec McGehee; pitcher Brian Tan; and infielder Chaz Verduzco.