JOPLIN, Mo. - The Fort Hays State baseball team fell to Missouri Southern in Sunday's series finale by a final score of 12-4 (March 22). The Tigers (9-18, 6-11 MIAA) led 2-0 after three innings before the Lions (16-10, 11-5 MIAA) pushed across a dozen runs over the next four frames to pull in front for good.
 
The Tigers pushed across the first runs of the game in the top of the third when Garretson Cook led off with a single. Antonio Avila also singled later in the frame before Erick Ordonez drove in a pair with a double on a 3-2 pitch. The Lions answered with back-to-back solo home runs to start the home half of the fourth before plating two more runs on three additional hits, taking a 4-2 lead.
 
Avila helped FHSU punch back with a one-out double in the top of the fifth before the outfielder came around to score following an Ordonez ground ball. The Lions kept things rolling with three runs on one hit and five free bases in the fifth before plating four runs on two hits and three free bases in the sixth.
 
Avila scored again in the top of the seventh after he was hit by a pitch with two outs. The senior moved up 90 feet on an error before scoring his third run of the game on a Cooper Howell single, pulling FHSU within 11-4. The Lions grabbed the run right back in the home half of the inning with a solo home run, completing the scoring.
 
Avila was 2-for-4 with a trio of runs scored, while Ordonez batted 2-for-5 with three RBI. Caleb Camp (1-1) took the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits over 4.1 innings of work. Aaron Boutz gave up two runs in one inning of relief, while Luke Berry tossed the final 2.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits.
 
The Tigers will continue their long road trip Tuesday (March 24) when they take on Emporia State beginning at 3 p.m. in Emporia, Kan.