The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Missouri Southern Sports

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March 1, 2013

Southern earns split against UCO

From staff reports

EDMOND, Okla. — Sam Ryan, Dane Kolkmeyer and Thomas Wilson drove in two runs apiece as Missouri Southern defeated Central Oklahoma 6-3 Thursday afternoon to earn a split in their MIAA baseball doubleheader at Wendell Simmons Field.

The Bronchos scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the opener 5-3.

Missouri Southern (6-3, 2-3 MIAA) is scheduled to play a series this weekend at Fort Hays State, but since Hays received heavy snowfall earlier this week, the games could be moved to Joplin. A decision about the series will be made today.

Lions starter Ryan Bates (2-0) gave up three runs and six hits in 52⁄3 innings to win the second game. He struck out six batters and walked five.

Stephen Vaughn and Drew Noble combined for 31⁄3 innings of scoreless relief. Vaughn fanned three and walked one in 21⁄3 innings. Noble gave up two singles in the ninth but retired the last two batters on a called third strike and flyball to right to notch his second save.

The Lions tied the game 2-2 in the fifth when Shaun Hoover walked with one out and moved to third on Kolkmeyer’s double to right field. Wilson followed with a single to right to score both runners.

The Lions took the lead with two runs after two were out in the sixth. Will Wagner’s single to left and walks to Tee Helsel and Hoover loaded the bases. Kolkmeyer greeted reliever Mikel Beltran with a single to right to score Wagner and Helsel.

Dallas Burke doubled to right-center with one out in the Lions’ seventh, and Sam Ryan followed with his first home run of the season, a shot over the right-field wall.

Wilson went 3-for-4 to lead the Lions’ 12-hit attack. Michael McCoy, Burke and Kolkmeyer stroked two hits apiece.

Leadoff hitter Tyler Crabtree went 3-for-5 and drove in a run for Central Oklahoma (3-4, 3-4).

Missouri Southern trailed 3-1 after five innings in the first game but pulled even in the sixth.

Ryan’s single to center preceded Wagner’s two-run homer, his second of the season.

In the bottom of the inning, Lions starter David Reese (1-1) hit Matt Malloy with a pitch, and Jared Wright hit a two-run homer, his second of the game.

The Bronchos scored their first three runs on Wright’s leadoff homer in the second and Matt Johnson’s two-run shot in the third. Reese gave up six hits, fanned six and walked none in 51⁄3 innings.

The Lions scored their first run in the fourth when Hoover drew a bases-loaded walk. Ryan walked, Nick Doughty was hit by a pitch and Wagner singled to center to fill the bases.

Wagner had half of the Lions’ four hits.

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