Baseball | 5/11/2019 2:59:04 PM
PITTSBURG, Kan. - Four teams will play two decisive games for a spot in the MIAA Championship game on Sunday, May 12 at Al Ortolani Field in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Sunday’s first elimination semifinal match-up will be at 9 a.m. with top-seeded Central Missouri against second-seeded Missouri Southern. The next game will be at 12:30 p.m. between third-seeded Central Oklahoma and fourth-seeded Pittsburg State. The winners of the two elimination semifinals will play for the MIAA Championship at 4 p.m.
Below is a complete recap of Saturday’s games and a complete schedule for Sunday’s action. For more information on the 2019 MIAA Baseball Championship, visit the Championship Central page.
Game 9: No. 2 Missouri Southern 7, No. 6 Lindenwood 2
Back-to-back one-run innings in the second and third helped Missouri Southern eliminate Lindenwood. MSSU added four runs in the seventh inning to put away LWU. Freddie Landers was 3-for-5 with an RBI and run scored while Denver Coffee was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored for the Lions. As a pitching staff, Missouri Southern combined for 10 strikeouts with eight from starter Zac Shoemaker. Lindenwood’s Ryan Sosnowski was 3-for-4 at the plate.
Game 10: No. 2 Missouri Southern 5, No. 1 Central Missouri 4
Missouri Southern overcame a four-run deficit to force a decisive game for a spot in Sunday’s MIAA Championship game. The Lions used a three-run third inning then tied the game an inning later with a solo home run from Matt Miller. An RBI single in the seventh from Freddie Landers provided the go-ahead run. The Mules were led by Mason Janvrin who went 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI. Bradly Hershey tossed 7 1/3 innings with one run allowed and six strikeouts for MSSU. Seven of the game’s nine runs were scored in the first three innings.
Game 11: No. 4 Pittsburg State 5, No. 8 Missouri Western 4
A pair of two-run innings helped Pittsburg State drop Missouri Western. After the Griffons scored a run in both the bottom of the second and third innings, the Gorillas answered with two runs in the fourth to tie the game. PSU again used a two run inning in the sixth to regain the lead and would never give it back. Pittsburg State was led by Caleb Cox and John Oliver who each had three hits. Fahd Shakeel and Andrew Curry combined for four hits and three of Missouri Western’s four runs.
Game 12: No. 4 Pittsburg State 2, No. 3 Central Oklahoma 1
Pittsburg State fought off its second straight elimination game and forced a decisive game on Sunday to earn a right to play for the MIAA Championship. The Gorillas received a clutch 141 pitch complete game from Dante Richardson. Richardson allowed one earned run and only issued three walks with 12 strikeouts in his victory. PSU provided just enough run support with scores in the bottom of the second and sixth innings. The Bronchos tried to make a comeback with a run in the seventh inning from Dru Barrier but their rally fell short of a comeback.
Schedule - Sunday, May 12
Game 13: #2 Missouri Southern vs. #1 Central Missouri - 9 a.m.
Game 14: #4 Pittsburg State vs #3 Central Oklahoma - 12:30 p.m.
Game 15: MIAA Championship - 4 p.m.