JOPLIN, Mo.—The Truman Baseball team continued its weekend in Joplin at the MIAA/GLVC Crossover with two games against the hosts—Missouri Southern. The Lions downed the Bulldogs 8-7 in an 11 inning marathon in the first game then scored six unanswered in game two to win 14-9.
Game One
Truman took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Simon Murray doubled to right, then advanced to third on a wild pitch and came in to score as Brennan Perkins grounded out to first. MSSU evened it up in the bottom of the first, and in the top of the second Will Fromm led off with a double and then moved to third with no outs on a single by Luke Turner, but with runners on the corners Truman was unable to bring a run across. In the top of the fourth Fromm led off with a double again, then a single by Turner produced the same situation from the second inning. This time Jake Schneider reached on a fielder's choice but brought Fromm in to score.
Down 3-2 in the top of the sixth, a one out double from Holden Missey started a big inning. Fromm grounded out to move Missey to third and from there Turner was hit by pitch and then a wild pitch brought Missey in. Schneider followed with a single to score Turner from second. Later with the bases loaded Murray walked to bring in a run and make it 5-3.
MSSU evened the game at five in the bottom of the seventh, but a triple from Tal Dean in the top of the eighth scored Kevin Donohue, who was running for Schneider. MSSU struck back in the bottom of the inning to make it 6-6 going into the ninth.
Truman went 1-2-3 in the top of the fame and Missey moved to the mound in relief of starter Connor McKenna. He kept the Lions off the board and sent the game to extras. In the top of the 11th, Murray led off with a homer to center to put Truman up 7-6. After going two innings, Missey moved back to first and in the bottom of the 11th a two run homer won the game for MSSU 8-7.
McKenna went the deepest into a game in his career throwing eight innings but settled for a no decision. Cole Gayman (2-1) got the win for the Lions while Tucker Olson (0-1) took the loss.
Game Two
Turner had a one out double in the top of the first, and later with two outs Missey doubled down the left field line to bring Turner in to score. MSSU answered with a run in the bottom of the first, but Truman went off in the top of the second. Dylan Thompson led off with a single, and then Sam Smith was hit by a pitch with one out. A groundout by Murray moved both runners into scoring position with two outs, and from there Turner singled to center to bring two runs in. Turner stole second, and then Perkins reached on an error to move Turner to third. Jack Owens hit a three run bomb, first of his career, to right center to put Truman up 6-1. Truman got one more in the top of the third as Thompson singled to right center, then moved to second as Luke Roussel was hit by pitch. Smith singled through the left side to bring Thompson in to score.
In the bottom of the third MSSU scored seven to go up 8-7. But Truman answered with a two run shot from Missey, who brought Owens in to score after he walked with one out. But from there, MSSU scored the last six runs of the game.
Cale McCallister (1-0) got the win for MSSU while Michael Daggett took the loss to drop to 0-2 on the season. Cole Eggerding made his debut for the Bulldogs, throwing two innings and allowing just one earned run on four hits.
The Bulldogs will take on Missouri Western at 4 PM tomorrow to close out their four game set against MIAA opponents.
