ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western baseball (8-24, 6-15 MIAA) dropped a 6-5 midweek game against Missouri-St. Louis (21-16) on Tuesday at the MWSU Spring Sports Complex.

The Griffons got off to a strong start, scoring three runs in the first inning, sparked by a two-run RBI triple by Easton Mains. Western added another run in the fourth with an RBI groundout from Blake Anderson.

UMSL got on the board in the top of the sixth with a pair of unearned runs. MWSU pushed the lead to 5-2 with an RBI single from Easton O'Keefe.

UMSL then tied the game in the eighth, including a two-run RBI double by Owen Polly. The Tritons got the go-ahead in the top of the ninth with an RBI double by Mitch Bonczkowski.

UMSL closer Will Johnson put MWSU down in order in the ninth to seal the deal. Three of UMSL's six runs were unearned, as the Griffons committed a season-high five errors.

Mains led MWSU at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and two RBI. Cameron Dean went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Carson Rosen (0-1) took the loss, pitching the last 1.2 innings for Western, allowing two earned runs and walking one.

Micah Diamond and Gage Busby each saw their first pitching action of the season. Diamond started and struck out three in two innings. Busby followed that up with three scoreless innings of middle relief, striking out three.

MWSU is on the road Wednesday to face Northwest Missouri State. First pitch in that game is set for 2 p.m.