ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Missouri Western baseball (8-21, 6-13 MIAA) dropped the first game of their series against Missouri Southern (19-14, 12-11 MIAA), 12-4, on a chilly Saturday at the Spring Sports Complex.
 
Missouri Southern took an early 3-0 lead with an unearned run in the first inning, followed by an RBI walk and a hit-by-pitch in the third.
 
Frank Gall's fourth home run of the season to right-center field sparked a four-run fourth inning to give the Griffons their first lead of the game at 4-3. However, Missouri Southern answered back with a dominant six-run inning in the sixth and added three more insurance runs in the ninth to secure the victory.
 
Game one at Griffon Park was an offensive showcase, with both teams combining for 25 hits. Despite leaving 16 runners stranded, MSSU managed to record 10 RBIs, while also drawing 10 walks and reaching base via hit-by-pitch six times. Western left 10 runners on base and punched out nine times.
 
Missouri Western finished the game with 12 hits, marking their eighth consecutive game with 10 or more. Gall stood out for the Griffons, hitting a home run and a double, while Chayton Beck led all players with three hits.
 
Josh Nolte (0-2) suffered his second loss of the season after allowing the game-winning run in the sixth inning. First-team All-American Cole Gayman (3-3) claimed the win despite giving up nine hits and four earned runs.
 
Missouri Western and Missouri Southern will run it back tomorrow, with game two scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.