With the memory of a 12-0 start to the season wiped away by losses in 12 of the next 14 ballgames, the Lions (19-12, 13-11 MIAA) regained their grasp on a season falling through the cracks after a 3-0 shutout victory over rival Pittsburg State on Tuesday.

The win followed a slump-busting weekend sweep of Southwest Baptist, giving Southern the chance to chase the top of the MIAA throughout the remaining 19 games of the regular season schedule, and an opportunity to defend last season’s MIAA Championship.

“We feel like we are back in the mix,” said senior Beau Phillips. “Just keep winning series and press on to try and host the tourney.”

The opening series of the final 19 games is a weekend set with the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri (16-13, 11-10 MIAA), who currently reside in eighth place of the MIAA standings, putting them three slots behind the Lions who have climbed back to the fifth spot after a dramatic fall over the aforementioned skid.

In the early going, the Lions rode the quality arms at the top of their rotation, hurlers who dominated the competition to compensate for a group searching for production at the plate.

Then the talented teams of the MIAA came calling, and the Lions pitching could not compensate.

Losing close game after close game, Southern seemed to be a hit away in every ballgame.

“Baseball is a fun game to play when you are winning,” said senior Ryan Bates. “So we are going to try and have some fun and in the end win some games.”

Still, this story seems all too familiar after last season, which saw a hot start, some turmoil and then a rocket-propelled trip to the NCAA Regional Tournament — a magical trip that the Lions hope to relive in 2014. Standing in front of them, though, are four teams — three of which took series from the Lions already this season.

With almost nothing being as unpredictable as baseball, however, the Lions feel like they have their finger on how this story will end.

“We’re not quite where we want to be,” said senior Drew Noble, “but we will hit our stride at the right time so we can take that title again.”