A 6-run bottom of the sixth wasn’t enough for the Lions on Monday when Missouri Southern State University played host to Minnesota State University-Mankato, wrapping up the Lion Classic at Warren Turner Field.
MSSU fell 9-8 to the No. 13 Mavericks despite tying the game at 7 in the sixth and at 8 in the seventh. But a run in the top of the eighth put the visitors ahead for good.
The Lions (4-5) sent Caden Carter out to pitch in the top of the seventh after their sixth-inning rally. The only batter the lefty got to face walked. That batter came around to score, and Carter was tagged with the loss. Luke Beverlin ended up working through the seventh. After tying it again in the bottom of the frame, Michael Mulhollon came in to pitch the eighth for the Lions. He surrendered a solo home run to Cole Yearsley leading off the inning.
Yearsley’s home run ended up being the winning hit for Mankato. The Lions went down in order in the eighth and ninth innings.
Braden Grimm started and Brady Nelson came in relief for the Mavericks. MSSU notched four earned runs off of each. Nelson logged the win.
Southern started freshman Jackson Gamble on the mound. He completed two innings, surrendering three runs on four hits and walked two batters while striking out four. Keaton Anderson completed the next three innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and struck out one batter. The next four innings saw Marcus Young, Carter, Beverlin and Mulhollon combine to strike out five batters and allow just two runs.
Blake Jones put the Lions on the board in the bottom of the second with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1. Jones led the team in runs batted in, with three.
The Mavericks (3-1) built on their lead in the fourth with two runs and again in the sixth with two more. They hit three solo home runs during those two innings.
During Southern’s six-run sixth, it had three doubles to highlight the inning. Cy Darnell started the scoring with a double to left field, driving in Ethan Clark to make it 7-2. Later in the inning, Jason Lazo doubled down the right field line, scoring Jones and Jacob Filip to make it 7-5. Brayden Luikart followed with a double to right of his own to score Lazo and Jake Leeker, tying the score at 7.
The Lions’ final run came on an RBI single from Jones on an infield hit to third base. Will Potter scored on the play.
MSSU’s next game is Friday at Rogers State University (6-2) to start MIAA play. The three games of the series are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday in Claremore, Oklahoma.