From staff reports
sports@joplinglobe.com
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri Southern rapped 26 hits and received stout pitching from senior left-handers C.J. Maffei and Kevin Humphrey in sweeping Missouri Western in an MIAA baseball doubleheader on Monday.
Joe Lincoln finished 6 of 7 at the plate, scored five runs and drove in five to offensively key Missouri Southern in the twinbill.
The Lions won the seven-inning opener 8-3 behind Maffei’s five-hitter and Lincoln’s 3-for-3 and Michael Zurmehly’s four RBI.
Humphrey, supported by 14 hits, worked a strong seven in the nine-inning second game that the Lions won 14-4.
It was the second sweep by the Lions (7-14, 5-9) against the Griffons (7-8. 4-4) in as many days at Phil Welch Stadium.
Said Southern head coach Bryce Darnell of Lincoln’s hitting: “Maybe his average didn’t show it coming into this series, but Joe has been swinging the bat well for a couple of weeks. He’s even made several ‘loud’ outs.
“The pitching today was awesome and actually it was that way all through the weekend,” Darnell said.
“We were so happy to see C.J. work a complete game in the opener after missing a start because of soreness,” Darnell said. “He pitched very well. We had him throwing 94 pitches. We’re glad to have him back at 100 percent. He’s been the cornerstone in our rotation.”
Maffei (2-3) allowed two earned runs, struck out three and walked three.
Humphrey (1-2) allowed six hits — he permitted three tallies in the seventh — struck out four and walked four.
“Kevin was his usual solid self,” Darnell said. “He’s turned in that kind of effort for three or four times in a row.”
The Lions jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning of the opener on Zurmehly’s fourth homer of the season. Zurmehly then doubled home two runs in the third and Lincoln singled in another to make it 5-0.
The Lions broke the contest open with three runs in the fifth for an 8-1 lead. That frame included a run-scoring double by Shayne Hoke.
Jacob Taylor, Hoke and Zurmehly each had two hits in the first game to back Lincoln.
Corey Wells and Tyler Jinks each tossed an inning in the second game to finish for Humphrey, who took a two-hitter into the seventh.
Lincoln ignited the Lions in the second game with a two-run double to break up a scoreless game in the fourth. Patrick Deao then doubled home Lincoln.
The Lions, after adding two unearned runs in the fifth, made it 6-0 in the seventh on a Lincoln double to plate Taylor. Lincoln eventually scored on a double by Fernando Lugo and Deao singled in Lugo.
The Lions extended an 8-3 advantage with four runs in the eighth and two in the ninth. Zach Caldwell launched the eighth with a double and Lee Hall garnered a run-scoring single in the ninth.
Skyler Rawlins and Taylor, who scored four runs, had three hits apiece for the Lions to back Lincoln (3-4, 4 RBI) in Game 2.
The Lions open a four-game road series at 3 p.m. on Friday with a single game against Northwest Missouri State.
