Wins escape Lions early in new year

Junior Kyle Knight runs to first bse, making an easy out.

Junior Kyle Knight runs to first bse, making an easy out.

Beginning March 4 the Missouri Southern baseball team hosted the MSSU Larry Hickey Classic at Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin. The tournament runs until Saturday.

March 4, the Lions played Morningside College from Iowa. Southern won the game 7-2.

Michael Meyer, junior pitcher, earned the win, pitching five innings with one strikeout.

Grand Valley State University beat Southern 15-1 March 5. Chris Farmer, junior pitcher/first baseman, pitched three innings, letting up eight runs. Farmer was credited with the loss, bringing him to 0-1.

MC and Southern played again March 5. This time Southern dealt MC a 16-3 loss.

Aaron Jenkins, junior pitcher/infielder, pitched the full game. He gave up eight runs and struck out five batters. He is now 1-2 for the year.

GVSU gave Southern an 8-3 loss March 6. Pete Marjamaa, senior pitcher, pitched seven innings, earning the loss. He struck out three batters but gave up eight runs – four of them earned.

Marjamaa is now 0-1.

Southern again beat MC March 6, with a score of 9-6. Andrew Doennig, junior pitcher, picked the win with eight innings pitched. He struck five batters out. His record is now 1-0.

The Lions traveled to Bolivar March 7 to play a double header against Southwest Baptist University. SBU swept the Lions 5-4 and 6-3. Meyer and Lucas Vestal, junior pitcher, picked up the losses. Meyer is now 1-3 and Vestal 0-2.

March 8 saw the Lions back at Joe Becker Stadium. Southern beat Northern (S.D.) State University 13-8.

Kyle Knight picked up the win.

The Lions played NSU and GVSU again March 9. Results of this game were unavailable at the time of press.

The men return to action Saturday at the MSSU Mutt Miller Classic.

The Lions stand at 4-10 overall and 0-2 in the MIAA.