TOPEKA, Kan. — The fifth-ranked Missouri Southern baseball team split a double-header Saturday at Washburn, falling 5-3 in the opener, but winning 4-3 in 11 innings in game two.
The Lions, now 11-1 overall and 5-1 in the MIAA, fell victim to two late runs in game two as Washburn (3-7, 3-3 MIAA) scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning that proved to be the game-winners.
Southern scored a run in the fourth when Tommy Stevenson singled home Troy Gagan to cut the Washburn lead to 2-1.
The Ichabods scored a run in the fifth to go up 3-1, before the Lions tied the game in the sixth with home runs from Joe Kinder and Gagan. Washburn scored two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to seal the win.
Gagan went 3-for-4 in the game with two runs and an RBI, including a homer. Jordan Fitzpatrick was 3-for-4, as well, while Stevenson had a pair of hits and an RBI.
Zac Shoemaker started and got the loss, going five and a third and striking out five. Scott Duensing and Cale McCallister threw in relief.
Game two saw the Lions come-from-behind to tie it in the ninth and score a go-ahead run in the 11th to claim the win. The Lions got on the board first after a sacrifice fly from Kinder scored Dexter Swims in the third.
Washburn answered with two runs in the third and another run in the seventh to go up 3-1 after seven.
The Lions scored a run in the eighth on Gagan’s second home run of the day and picked up the tying run in the ninth on an RBI double from Brad Wilis to score Clay Milas.
Southern scored what would be the game-winner on a bases-loaded balk in the 11th.
Gagan, Milas and Swims all had two hits in the game, while Swims and Willis had a double each and Gagan had a homer.
Will Bausinger started and went seven innings, striking out five, while Chase Beiter threw the final four innings and struck out six to pick up the win.
The Lions will be back in action next Friday and Saturday as Southern travels to St. Joseph to take on Missouri Western.
