Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Fort Hays State baseball's struggles continued on Saturday in Joplin, Mo., as they were swept by Missouri Southern in a doubleheader by scores of 12-4 and 11-1. Missouri Southern, ranked No. 24 in NCAA Division II, swept the four-game series, moving to 15-1 overall and 8-0 in the MIAA. Fort Hays State dropped to 2-10 overall and 1-7 in the MIAA with the losses.

Game 1: Missouri Southern 12, FHSU 4

Box Score

FHSU claimed an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on a Jay Sanders RBI groundout, but it was all Missouri Southern from that point as the Lions scored two in the bottom of the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, and six in the fifth on their way to a 12-4 win.

Connor Beer allowed six runs over four innings in his start for FHSU. Four of the six runs allowed were earned. Chase Newman did not fair well in relief, lasting just a third of an inning while allowing three runs. Kyle Leroy surrendered the final three runs and did not record an out.

Jesse Hart was the only Tiger to hold the Lions scoreless, pitching the final 1.2 innings of the game.

Brett Macari recorded an RBI on a groundout in the fourth, an inning where the Tigers got two runs benefitting from an MSSU error. Luke Kordsmeier had a solo home run in the sixth.

David Reese was the winning pitcher for MSSU. Just one of his four runs allowed were earned. He struck out three and walked one in six innings of work.

Game 2: Missouri Southern 11, FHSU 1

Box Score

Missouri Southern jumped out to a 4-0 lead early with three runs in the first and one in the second. FHSU pulled within three at 4-1 in the top of the fifth on sacrifice fly RBI by Sheldon Howell, but that was all the scoring for the Tigers in the game.

The Lions pulled away with three in the fifth, one in the sixth, and three in the seventh to force the 10-run rule after seven innings. Nathan Zimmerman started for FHSU and allowed five of the runs (four earned). Alex Ellison and Tayler Davis each allowed three in relief.

Ethan Stenger threw a complete game for Missouri Southern, striking out five without walking a batter.

Fort Hays State plays a four-game series at Lincoln University next weekend in Jefferson City, Mo.