From staff reports
sports@joplinglobe.com
TOPEKA, Kan. — Cliff Wheeler’s seventh-inning bunt single — the only hit of the inning — scored the winning run as Missouri Southern nipped Washburn 6-5 Friday afternoon in the opener of a four-game MIAA baseball series at Falley Field.
The Ichabods bounced back to earn a doubleheader split with a 16-6 decision in the nightcap.
The Lions (7-17, 5-5 MIAA) trailed 5-1 after five innings in the first game but scored three runs in the sixth to pull within a run. Juan Hernandez singled to start the inning and later scored on Wheeler’s single. After two Washburn errors, Jeff Katchmar hit a two-run single to make it 5-4.
In the seventh pinch hitter Matt Mantle drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Hernandez’ sacrifice. C.J. Matthews reached on a fielder’s choice to put runners at first and third, and Mantle scored the tying run on a wild pitch by Andre Miller. Matthews hustled to third on the play and came home on Wheeler’s bunt.
Lions pitcher Tyler Lipscomb (2-3) hit Dan Egan with a pitch to start the bottom of the seventh, but one out later, Egan was thrown out stealing. Lipscomb retired Cameron Kasel on a grounder to second baseman Wheeler to end the game.
Lipscomb gave up nine hits and four earned runs in his complete-game effort, walked one batter and fanned one.
Hernandez and Wheeler had two hits apiece to account for half of the Lions’ hits. Wheeler and Katchmar each had two RBI.
Missouri Southern grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning of the nightcap. Singles by Derek Ezell, Katchmar and Gabe Wyatt loaded the bases with one out before Skyler Rawlins walked to force in a run. Alec French followed with a sacrifice fly to right.
But the Ichabods (7-10, 4-6) broke loose with three runs in the second and third innings and six in the fourth for a 12-3 advantage.
The Ichabods finished with 16 hits off four pitchers, including three by Wes Joy, Cameron Kasel and Joe Hosey. Calvin Iversen drove in four runs with two-run singles in the second and fourth innings, and Kasel had three RBI, including a two-run double in the seventh when Washburn ended the game because of the 10-run rule.
Wheeler had two hits for the Lions, including a two-run homer in the fifth, his third of the season.
The Lions and Ichabods play another twinbill at 1 p.m. today.
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