Baseball | 4/30/2015 10:19:17 PM

Kansas City, Mo. – The first night of the MIAA baseball tournament is in the books as teams took one game leads in the best of three series.

#2 Emporia State 9, #7 Lindenwood 3
Second seeded Emporia State used a five-run fourth inning to put the game away and defeat seventh seeded Lindenwood in the first of a three-game series.

For the Hornets at the plate Dean Long was one for four with a three-run home run. Justin Harris was two for five with a run scored and two driven in while Wade Hanna and Jordan Hodges each scored twice. Travis Hendry earned the win the on the mound going seven innings allowing six hits and striking out four.
 
For the Lions at the plate Nathan Prindle hit a two run home run and Wes Degener and Wade Rothermich each had two hits.
 
ESU takes a 1-0 series lead as the two teams will take the field tomorrow at 5 p.m. in game two of the series from Emporia.
 
#1 Missouri Southern 8, #8 Northeastern State 1
Top seeded Missouri Southern broke open a pitchers duel with five runs in the seventh inning to take the first of a three-game series with eighth seeded Northeastern State.
 
For the Lions Even Natick was one for four with two runs driven in and Jon Davis scored twice. Tee Helse was two for three with a home run and two runs driven in while Chris Hoffman also scored twice. On the mound Cody Hutchinson earned a complete game scattering eight hits and striking out nine.
 
The two teams will face off at 6 p.m. tomorrow in game two of the series from Joplin.
 
#3 Central Missouri 10, #6 Nebraska-Kearney 5
Third seeded Central Missouri used a five run fifth inning to pull away and earn a win in game one of the best of three series with sixth seeded Nebraska-Kearney.
 
For the Mules at the plate Derek Cornell had two hits while driving in a team best five runs. Trevor Jones scored three times while Tony Sandifer and Dylan Farrell each scored twice. On the mound Carlos D’Armas went 5.2 innings striking out six to earn the victory.

For the Lopers at the plate Max Ayoub, Dillon Schroeder and Brent Kirsch all hit a home run with Ayoub scoring a team best two runs.
 
The two teams will be back at it for game two of the series tomorrow at 6 p.m. from Warrensburg.
 
#5 Washburn 6, #4 Missouri Western 5
Fifth seeded Washburn needed extra innings on the road to upset fourth seeded Missouri Western in the first of a three-game series.
 
For the Ichabods at the pate Riley Krane had three hits scoring two runs and driving in one. Parker Gibson, Kyle Carnahan and Tanner Triggs each drove in a run as Gibson and Triggs also scored one each. On the mound Tanner Kilmer pitched the final five innings allowing just four hits to earn the win.
 
For the Griffons at the plate Ryan Degner had four hits driving in three runs and scoring two.
 
The two teams will return to the field tomorrow for game two at 6 p.m. from St. Joseph.