Gorski raps two homers as MSSU downs Northeastern State 21-7

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Joplin, Mo. -- Richie Gorski went 4-5 with two home runs and the Missouri Southern Baseball team hit five long balls on the day as the Lions defeated Northeastern State 21-7 at Warren Turner Field today.

Southern (26-23, 18-17 MIAA) moves one game in front of Pittsburg State for the last spot into the MIAA Tournament. The top seven spots have all been claimed with Central Oklahoma and Northwest Missouri securing sports today. A win for the Lions tomorrow or a loss from PSU, and Southern is in the tournament.

Gorski was a triple away from the cycle as he had two home runs a double and a single, driving in five and scoring two runs. Brett Graham went 4-5 with four RBIs, a home run and three runs scored. Dave Prost went 2-4 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored, while Tyler Sutherland went 2-3 with a home run, three runs scored and two driven in. Danny Biggs went 2-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Mike Million went 3-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. Alec Alvarez had two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Joe Paulino was 2-4 with a run scored. Max Hogan scored two runs and had a hit with two walks.

Sean Goostree started and went five and two thirds, striking out seven and walking just one to move to 4-2 on the season. Craig Larkin threw the final inning and a third, striking out the final batter and holding NSU hitless.

Northeastern (21-25, 14-20 MIAA) got a 3-4 day with three RBIs and two runs scored from Dakota Woods. Nolan Sturgeon fell to 4-4 with the loss.

The RiverHawks scored two runs in the first, but the Lions answered back with a pair of home runs in the bottom half of the inning, a three-run shot from Prost and a two-run blast from Gorski to go up 5-2 after one.

After NSU scored four more in the second to go up 6-5, the Lions batted around in the second and scored eight runs to go up 13-6 after two. RBIs from Sutherland, Graham (2), Alvarez, Gorski (2), and Biggs (2) highlighted the inning that saw Gorski smack his second homer of the game.

Southern added two more in the third on RBIs from Alvarez and Million, and added two more in the fourth, this time on a homer from Sutherland and an RBI double from Gorski.

NSU added a run in the fifth, but the Lions scored four more in the fifth. RBIs from Biggs and Graham (2) highlighted the inning that saw Graham's blast.

The Lions will close out the regular-season tomorrow as the two teams will face-off at noon.