The Missouri Southern Lion baseball team began MIAA play this last weekend when Lindenwood University visited Warren Turner Field, and it was the Lions who came out on top to win the series by winning two of the three games to move their record on the year to 10-1. Southern entered the weekend ranked as the number ten team in the nation and after a first game collapse that lead to a 16-2 loss the team rebounded to win the last two games by a score of 5-2 and 15-7. The biggest news of the weekend happened on Saturday when senior left hander Payton Walker broke the MSSU career strikeouts record. Walker, a former Carl Junction athlete struck out 11 batters in a complete game win. He allowed four hits and walked three hitters on his way to a 3-0 record on the year. He has now racked up 211 career strikeouts, passing Doug Stockham who set the previous record all the way back in the seasons spanning from 1984-1987. With more then half the season to go it will be interesting to see how many more strikeouts Walker will add to his total in what will be the ending to a very productive four year career.

Jesse Rall led the offensive attack for MSSU this weekend as he went 6-7 at the plate including a couple of homeruns. He was hit by a pitch four times in the weekend finale, but was still able to score two runs in the game. Overall it was a very balanced attack from the Lions lineup as Richie Gorski and Tyler Sutherland also had very solid weekends at the plate. The Lions will go on their first road trip of the season next weekend when they travel to Nebraska-Kearney to take on the Lopers in MIAA play.