The ninth-ranked Missouri Southern baseball team split a doubleheader with visiting Northeastern State today, winning game one 5-0, but losing game two 3-2.
The Lions (23-7, 16-7 MIAA) got an outstanding start in game one from Zach Parish as the lefty went seven innings, striking out 13 and allowing just two hits and combining with Scott Duensing to shutout the RiverHawks (20-9, 17-6 MIAA). Parish moved to 8-1 on the season.
Troy Gagan went 3-for-4 in the opener with two RBIs, a double and a run scored. Henry Kusiak had a pair of hits, while Ryan Hunter was 2-for-4 with a run. Matt Miller had a home run, two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Clay Milas scored a run and Tommy Stevenson added a double.
Miller started the scoring in the fifth inning, laying down a perfect bunt single to score Hunter. Gagan then drove home Miller and Milas with an RBI double, before Stevenson drove home Gagan with a double of his own.
Miller added a solo homer in the sixth for the game’s final tally.
Game two saw another stellar pitching performance by both teams as Will Bausinger and Nic Swanson went toe-to-toe for a good portion of the game. Bausinger held the RiverHawks hitless through four and two thirds before CD White got the first hit of the game.
The RiverHawks got on the board in the sixth when Blaze Brothers hit a home run to left field. NSU added two more unearned runs in the seventh before Bausinger exited. The Lions got two runs in the ninth on an two-run shot from Milas but the comeback was just short.
Bausinger went seven innings and struck out four, while allowing four hits and one earned run. Jacob Davis pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
Milas went 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Kusiak and Joe Kinder had a pair of hits each, while Jordan Fitzpatrick and Hunter had a hit each.
The Lions will finish the series tomorrow afternoon with a single, nine-inning game at 1 p.m.
