Tuesday, April 30, 2019

MSSU junior Morgan Ash named MIAA Women's Field Athlete of the Week

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern junior Morgan Ash has been named the MIAA Women's Field Athlete of the Week as announced by the league office today.

Ash is the third Lion to win the Field Athlete of the Week in a row and the fourth of the year in the five weeks the League has given the award this season.








Ash picked up an NCAA Automatic Qualifying Mark and a win in the Javelin at the PSU/Wendy's Tune-up last weekend. She went for a school-record 168-09 (51.45m) in the Javelin, which stands as the top mark in Division II this year.

Ash and the No. 2 ranked Lions will be in action this week at the 2019 MIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Warrensburg.

MSSU women's track and field team ranked number two nationally

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern women's track and field team has moved up to No. 2 nationally in the latest United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Rating Index, the organization announced today.

The Lions obtain their highest-ever ranking in program history as the team was No. 3 two weeks ago and move up from No. 4 last week.










Southern has two athletes ranked No. 1 in their respective events and three ranked No. 2. Emily Presley is No. 1 in the pole vault and Morgan Ash is No. 1 in the javelin, while Elizabeth Pomatto is No. 2 in the javelin and Desirea Buerge ranks No. 2 in both the shot put and discus.

The Lions, as a team, have 11 top-ten ranked event qualifiers this season and open up the 2019 MIAA Track and Field Championships this weekend in Warrensburg. Action begins at Central Missouri on Friday.

Crowder College baseball, softball teams to begin Region 16 Tournament play

(From Crowder College)

Neosho, MO – The Roughrider Softball and Baseball teams begin Region 16 Tournament play this Friday, May 3.

Earning the #1 seed in the tournament the Roughrider Softball team will play at noon on Friday, May 3, at the Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City, MO. The team is currently ranked #10 in NJCAA Division I Softball. The tournament is a double elimination event.










Earning the #2 seed the Roughrider Baseball team will host a best 2 of 3 sub-regional versus Three Rivers. The first game is scheduled at 2pm on Friday, May 3, with game 2 on Saturday, May 4 at noon. Game 3 will be played immediately after, if needed. The team is currently ranked #14 in NJCAA Division I Baseball. The 4 teams winning their sub-region series will advance to the Region 16 tournament which will be held in Joplin, MO, starting May 9.

Games will be available through live streaming on our website: http://crowderathletics.com/blueframe


Monday, April 29, 2019

MSSU baseball game with Washburn canceled

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The non-conference baseball game between the Lions and Washburn in Topeka for tomorrow has been cancelled. No make-up game will be played.

Originally slated to play the final non-conference game of the season, the Lions and Ichabods will not play due to forecasted heavy rain in the Topeka area for tonight and tomorrow.

Southern will now finish out the regular season this weekend as the Lions travel to Lindenwood University on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Miller drives in four as MSSU defeats Pittsburg State 8-4

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The No. 21 ranked Missouri Southern baseball team got four RBIs from Matt Miller and a gem of a game from Zac Shoemaker as the Lions defeated Pittsburg State, 8-4 today on Warren Turner Field.

The Lions (30-16, 21-9 MIAA) win their 30th game of the season and for the sixth time in coach Bryce Darnell's career, win 30 games in a season.

Matt Miller went 2-for-4 wit a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. Troy Gagan went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run, while Jon Leighton had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Denver Coffee had a hit and a pair of runs scored, while Dexter Swims had a hit and a run, as well. Davin Gummere and Mike Million each had a hit, while Million added a late RBI.

Shoemaker started and went seven and two-thirds of an inning, striking out nine and allowing just three earned runs to move to 6-2 on the season. Bradly Hershey and Joey Reeves held the Gorillas scoreless, while Logan VanWey came in with the bases-loaded in the ninth and threw a three-pitch strikeout to get his second save of the year.








Pitt (25-18, 17-13 MIAA) got three hits from Ty Herrenbruck and two from Caleb Cox.

The Lions got a three-run homer from Miller in the first, before Pitt got two runs in the second and a single-run in the third to tie it up at three going into the bottom of the third.

Miller singled home Coffee to break the tie in the third, before Gagan singled home both Leighton and Miller to put the Lions up 6-3. Leighton added a homer in the fifth to put the Lions up 7-3, before Pitt got a single run in the eighth. Million added an RBI single to score Gagan in the eighth.

Southern will be back in action on Tuesday as the Lions will head to Topeka to take on Washburn in non-conference action. First-pitch is slated for 3 pm.


Saturday, April 27, 2019

MSSU throwers dominate Pitt State meet

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Pittsburg, Kan. -- The Missouri Southern men's and women's track and field teams had a dominant performance from the field events Friday at Pittsburg State as the Lions had eight event wins and four NCAA Automatic Qualifying performances, competing at the Pittsburg State-Wendy's Tune Up inside Carnie Smith Stadium.

The Lions had wins from Emily Presley (pole vault), Claire Luallen (long jump), Buerge (shot put, discus), Rajindra Campbell (shot put, discus), Kirsten Leisinger (hammer), and Morgan Ash (javelin). Presley, Buerge and Ash all had NCAA Automatic Qualifying Marks in their events.

Ash picked up a win in the javelin, going 168-09 (51.45m) for an NCAA AQ. Alexis Kuehl was second, while Katelyn Mooney placed fifth in the javelin. Leisinger won the hammer with an NCAA Provisional Qualifying mark of 185-06, while Alexandra Rodriguez was fourth.










Campbell won the discus and the shot put, starting with an NCAA provisional qualifying makr of 179-07, while Josh Fulmer was fourth and Elijah Smith was sixth. Campbell then won the shot put with a provisional mark of 58-07.25, while Fulmer and Smith placed eighth and 11th, respectively.

Buerge won the shot and the discus herself, picking up AQ's in both events. She won the shot with a mark of 52-05.5, while Payton Roberts was third with an NCAA provisional mark of 48-04.75. She then turned around and won the discus with another AQ of 173-11. Roberts was second, while Leisinger was fifth and Rodriguez was ninth in the event.

Luallen won the long jump with a distance of 18-08.50, while Ojurere Shonekan was tenth in the event. Presley was first with an AQ of 14-00.50, extending her national lead in the event by a half an inch. Elena Bisotto was third, while Lauren Sutherland was sixth, Jordan Banker was seventh and Megan Tramel placed 11th. Bisotto, Sutherland and Banker all picked up NCAA provisional marks.

In other action, Ashlynn Vanatter was fifth in the 400m, while Douglas Depagneux was third in his 400m race. Kelie Henderson led a group of five Lions placing in the top-11 of the 800m with a time of 2:19.87 to place third. Janna Hautala as fourth, Sara Lin was sixth, Mady Gepford was ninth and Kelsey Evans was 11th.

Nathan Painter and Blake Gillihan placed second and third in the 800m, while Henderson was second in the 1,500m and Danielle Prince placed 8th in the event. Painter was second in the 1,500m, while Ryan Drendell placed 10th. Morgan Smith placed third in the 100m hurdles with a provisional time of 14.04, while Watts was eighth and Miracle Grant was ninth.







Ivan Colbert was third in the 100m hurdles, while Rachel Ray was second in the 400m hurdles. The 4x100m relay team of Shonekan, Smith, Kassidy Owens and Luallen was third, while the 4x400m relay team of Evans, Gepford, Hautala and Linn placed third in the event.

Wynter Nekola was second in the high jump, while Grant was seventh. Dean Howard was third in the pole vault with a provisional height of 16-04.50, while Brendan Watkins was third in the long jump and Adrain Broadus placed eighth. Watts placed third in the triple jump, while Watkins and Broadus placed second and fourth in the triple jump.

Travis Petersen was third in the hammer with a provisional distance of 204-00, a foot behind his record he set last week at Central Missouri, while Fulmer was seventh and Trace Henault placed 11th.

The Lions will be back in action on on May 3-5 when Southern travels to Warrensburg to compete in the 2019 MIAA Championships.


MSSU baseball falls to PSU 9-4

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The No. 21 Missouri Southern baseball team got within one run of the Pittsburg State Gorillas, but PSU scored four runs in the ninth inning to put away the Lions 9-4 today on Warren Tuner Field.

The Lions (29-16, 20-9 MIAA) got a three run home run from Denver Coffee in the game that got the Lions on the board and tied the game in the fifth. Coffee drove in three and scored a run, while Mike Million and Alex Phillips had two hits each in the game. Freddie Landers, Dexter Swims, and Jon Leighton scored, while Leighton added an RBI.

Will Bausinger started and went five and two thirds, striking out eight but fell to 5-3 on the season. Joey Reeves, Brennon Covington, Logan VanWey, Cam Bednar and River Wright threw in relief.

Pitt (25-18, 17-12 MIAA) Got two RBIs each from Caleb Cox, Ty Herrenbruck and Tyler Pittman. Brad Kinsey got the win, while Tanner Lane picked up his tenth save of the year.








Pitt led 3-0 before Coffee's three-run homer in the fifth tied it up. Pittman then added a two-run triple to put the Gorillas up 5-3, before a home run from Leighton got the Lions within a run (5-4) after six.

The Gorillas, however, scored four runs in the ninth to put the game away.

The two teams will be back at it tomorrow afternoon with a 1 pm first-pitch from Turner Field.


MSSU softball ends 2019 season, says goodbye to four seniors


(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern softball team closed down the 2019 season inside the Pat Lipira Softball complex by recognizing its four seniors upon a pair of back-and-forth battles with Northeastern State that went the RiverHawks way by 7-3 in game one and 4-3 in game two.

Coaches, Family members, and the Missouri Southern Athletic Department stayed from the opening lineups to the end of game two to get a chance to thank and say fair well to fellow seniors Lexi Ferrari (RF), Taurean Guzman (P), Angel Badalamenti (C), and Ashley Caldarella (3B) as they were recognized for their achievements and contributions to MSSU throughout the last four years.

Game One

The Lions (19-25, 10-16 MIAA) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third after going scoreless through the first two innings. Designated player Emily Harris led it off with her second home run of the season to left center field and then with two outs and two runners on, junior Erika Lutgen singled up the middle to score both to conclude the scoring output.








Northeastern State (26-25, 14-12 MIAA) responded by scoring two runs in the fourth, two runs in the sixth, and three in seventh to close game one with the 7-3 win.

Makaila Leonhart, Ashley Caldarella, and Harris each had two hits, including a double from Leonhart.

Game Two

After the RiverHawks took a 1-0 advantage in the first, pinch hitter Kaycee Hodgson came up with two outs and runners on first and third. Early in count, Hodgson got a piece of one and launched it into right center for a triple and two RBIs to give the Lions a 2-1 lead. Elizabeth Windsor followed by a hitting double to left field to knock in the third run in the inning as Southern came out of the fourth up 3-1.

Then in the sixth as both teams went quietly in the fifth, the RiverHawks with two outs and the bases loaded had a chance to tie the game up. Cameron Conrad singled to left center to score one with the second one getting out on a bang-bang play at the plate in first glance to get the Lions out the inning, but the umpires huddled together to talk about it and reversed the call on the field to give the RiverHawks the tying run (3-3) entering the seventh.

The RiverHawks went on to score the game-winning run off a sac-fly in the seventh to end the day.

Harris and Josie Tofpi led the team with two hits while four other batters added a hit in the loss.

Friday, April 26, 2019

Scott Rolen, Jason Isringhausen, Mort Cooper selected for Cardinals Hall of Fame

(From the St. Louis Cardinals)

In a television special on FOX Sports Midwest this evening, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that Scott Rolen, Jason Isringhausen and Mort Cooper will be inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame presented by Edward Jones on Saturday, August 24, at FOX Sports Midwest Live! in Ballpark Village.

This is the sixth induction class since the team dedicated the Cardinals Hall of Fame with an Inaugural Class on Opening Day in 2014. 










The 2019 Induction Class was selected via a formal voting process, with input from fans and St. Louis baseball experts.

"Selecting the members of the Cardinals Hall of Fame Induction Class has become yet another beloved tradition in our organization," said Bill DeWitt Jr., Cardinals Chairman and CEO. "We look forward to celebrating the achievements of these remarkable players selected by our fans and our Red Ribbon Committee each August during Induction Weekend."


MSSU softball team to wrap up regular season today, Saturday

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern softball team wraps up the 2019 regular season with a battle against No. 1 Central Oklahoma today beginning at 2:00 pm followed by a doubleheader with the Northeastern State RiverHawks at noon tomorrow.

The Lions (19-21, 10-12 MIAA) enter the final weekend in the 11th spot with Lindenwood and Pittsburg State tied for the eighth and final spot in the MIAA tournament with 11-11 records while Fort Hays State sits one spot above the Lions in tenth at 11-13.

Saturday is also Senior Day where the 2019 class of four will be recognized at the conclusion of game two against the RiverHawks. The class includes designated hitter/outfielder Lexi Ferrari, pitcher Taurean Guzman, catcher Angel Badalamenti, and third baseman Ashley Caldarella.








The Rundown

Friday
2:00 pm
4:00 pm

Saturday
12:00 pm
2:00 pm

Video: Friday/Saturday - https://www.themiaanetwork.com/mssulions/
Radio: None
Stats: Friday/Saturday - https://mssulions.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary/

Leading The Hunt (Current stats)

Batting Average: Josie Tofpi (.365)
Hits: Josie Tofpi (46)
Doubles: Ashley Caldarella (10)
Triples: Josie Tofpi (4)
Home Runs: Erika Lutgen (5)
RBIs: Lexi Ferrari (32)
Stolen Bases: Elizabeth Windsor (12)
ERA: Taurean Guzman (2.20)
Wins: Taurean Guzman (10)
Strikeouts: Abby Atkin (78)
Fewest Walks Allowed: Taurean Guzman (40)
Opponent Batting Avg: Taurean Guzman (.251)
2019 NFCA Division II
Top 25 Coaches Poll - April 24 (Week 10)
RankSchoolTotals2019 RecordPrevious Week
1Central Oklahoma (7)38438-42
2West Florida (7)38339-71
3Texas A&M Kingsville (2)37636-83
4North Georgia35736-104
5Florida Tech33536-105
6West Texas A&M31730-106
7Winona State30439-57
8Texas A&M-Commerce28535-108
9UC San Diego26129-1010
10Grand Valley State24636-815
11Colorado Mesa21838-712
12Concordia Irvine21740-614
13Indianapolis19939-119
14Augustana19142-717
15Valdosta State17230-1216
16UAH15635-1218
17Southern New Hampshire14733-913
18Arkansas Tech12237-1324
19Tarleton State10236-1122
19Southern Arkansas10241-1011
21Georgian Court8339-619
22Southern Indiana7031-1521
23Chico State4929-1325
24Lincoln Memorial4432-12RV
t25Shepherd1932-1020
t25Mississippi College1934-11RV


Receiving Votes: LIU Post (18), Saint Leo (10), Cameron (5), Carson-Newman (4), Missouri Western (2), Saint Anselm (2), San Francisco State (1).

MIAA Teams and 2019 opponents in Bold; Central Region Teams Italicized. 

Thursday, April 25, 2019

MSSU baseball to play host to Pittsburg State

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The No. 21 ranked Missouri Southern baseball team is in action this weekend as the Lions will play host to Pittsburg State on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Game times will be 6 pm on Friday, 2 pm on Saturday and 1 pm on Sunday. The team will honor its 16 seniors on Saturday with senior day festivities before first pitch.

The Lions (29-14, 20-7 MIAA) sit a full game in front of Central Missouri on top of the MIAA standings going into this weekend's games. The Lions are hitting .286 as a team and carry a 4.34 team ERA, which ranks them third in the league in both categories. Southern is the only team in the MIAA to rank in the top three of each of those categories.








The Lions lead the MIAA in doubles (112) and are more than 20 in front of the next team in that category, while also leading the league in home runs, total bases and walks. The Southern pitching staff leads the MIAA in shutouts, strikeout to walk ratio and strikeouts per nine innings. The team has smashed the single-season strikeout record, having blown past last year's record of 423 with 452 already this season.

Individually, Mike Million leads the MIAA in walks, while Denver Coffee leads the league in doubles. Million ranks 22nd nationally, while Coffee is 17th. Zach Parish and Zac Shoemaker lead the league in games started, while Freddie Landers leads in hit by pitch. Parrish leads the league in fewest hits allowed per nine innings, wins and strikeouts, while Will Bausinger is fourth in both hits allowed and strikeouts. Parish and Bausinger rank first and second in WHIP. Parish (2.49), Bausinger (2.54) and Shoemaker (3.12 ERA) help the Lions sport one of the best weekend rotations in the league. Parish and Landers are the reigning MIAA Pitcher and Player of the Week.

Pittsburg State (23-18, 15-12 MIAA) comes into the game in a tie for fifth place in the MIAA standings, five games behind the Lions. The Gorillas are led by former Emporia State head coach Bob Fornelli and the team comes into the game hitting .245 as a team with a 4.16 team ERA. PSU is second in the MIAA in ERA. Chaz Burgess leads the team with a .298 batting average, while Brad Kinsey (3.51 ERA/5-2), Alex Achtermann (3.03 ERA/4-5) and Connor Lungwitz (3.96/3-2) lead the starting staff.

Each game will have live stats, audio and video and links can be found in the story links above or by checking the schedule.

MSSU track and field teams return to action at Pittsburg State Friday

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern men's and women's track and field teams will be back in action this weekend as the Lions have their final regular-season meet on Friday at Pittsburg State in the Wendy's Tune-Up.

The Southern women come into the event ranked fourth natioanlly, while the men are ranked 13th.

The Lions' women have ten individual performances that rank in the top-ten of Division II heading into the meet. Emily Presley leads Division II in the pole vault, while Elizabeth Pomatto leads the nation in the javelin. Desirea Buerge ranks second in both the shot put and the discus, while Payton Roberts is sixth in the shot and Claire Luallen is ninth in the long jump. Morgan Smith is fifth in the 100m hurdles, while Jasmine Deckard is seventh in the 200m and 10th in the 100m. Morgan Ash is tenth in the javelin, as well.










On the men's side, the Lions have six top-ten performances in Division II. Rajindra Campbell is fourth in both the shot put and the discus, while Travis Petersen is ninth in the hammer, Rajheim Carby is ninth in the javelin and Adrain Broadus is ninth in the triple jump. Josh Norville ranks sixth in the long jump.

Events start at noon inside Carnie Smith Stadium with the women's hammer throw. Running events start at 2 pm with the 3k steeplechase.


Wednesday, April 24, 2019

MSSU men's golf finishes tied for sixth at MIAA Championships

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Monkey Island, Okla. -- The Missouri Southern men's golf team finished tied for 6th today after the final round of the 2019 MIAA Men's Golf Championships hosted at Shangri-La Country Club.

The Lions were led by Jeremy Dunham and Taylor Haltom who both finished tied for 19th at 222 over the three rounds. Logan Greer shot a final-round 75 and finished tied for 25th with Tristan Haltom who shot a final round 73 and a 224 for the tournament. Tripper Jensen finished at 227 and tied for 30th individually.







Lindenwood won the team title with a 21-under par score of 843 over the three rounds, 12 strokes in front of second-place Northeastern State. Central Missouri was third, followed by Central Oklahoma and Washburn tied at fourth. The Lions and Missouri Western were tied at sixth, while Fort Hays State, Lincoln and Southwest Baptist round out the team scores.

Markus Lingren of Lindenwood won the individual title with a three-round total of 205, 11-under par.

Dunham was named an All-MIAA selection at the conclusion of the tournament.


MSSU baseball sixth in first NCAA Division II Central Region rankings

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The 21st-ranked Missouri Southern baseball team has debuted at No. 6 in the first NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings as the organization announced today.

The Lions are one of four MIAA teams in the top 10 ranked today, joining Central Missouri, Central Oklahoma and Emporia State.

Central Missouri is the No. 1 ranked team, followed by St. Cloud State, Minnesota State, Augustana, Arkansas-Monticello, the Lions, Central Oklahoma, Southern Arkansas, Emporia State and Arkansas Tech.








The NCAA will conduct two separate regional tournaments with four teams each for the Central Region this year with the top two seeds being offered the opportunity to host the event.

Southern will be in action at home this weekend, playing host to Pittsburg State on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.


CENTRALD2 Overall RecordIn-Region Record
1Central Mo.28-1226-9
2St. Cloud St.28-726-7
3Minnesota St.28-923-8
4Augustana (SD)30-1226-9
5Ark.-Monticello28-1128-11
6Mo. Southern St.29-1328-13
7Central Okla.27-1427-14
8Southern Ark.27-1627-16
9Emporia St.24-1624-16
10Arkansas Tech27-1827-18




MSSU women's golf finishes 10th at MIAA Championships

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Mayetta, Kan. -- The Missouri Southern women's golf team finished tenth overall today at the 2019 MIAA Women's Golf Championships hosted at Firekeeper Golf Course.

Kylie Carnes led the way for the Lions, shooting a final-round 78 today to finish 36th at 249. Maggie Moore was tied for 41st with a three-day 261, while Elizabeth Poe was 47th at 314. Taylor Boyett finished 49th at 320. 








Northeastern State won the team title with a three-day total of 902, finishing three strokes up on Central Missouri. Central Oklahoma was third, followed by Missouri Western, Northwest Missouri, Nebraska-Kearney, Lindenwood, Fort Hays State, Southwest Baptist and the Lions.

MSSU softball falls to Rogers State 1-0


(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern softball team battled the Rogers State Hillcats to the end in a low-scoring game where the Hillcats escaped with a 1-0 victory inside Pat Lipira Softball Complex Wednesday afternoon.

Both teams were held scoreless through five innings until the Hillcats singled a run home from second base with two outs in the sixth.








Shortstop Josie Tofpi led the Lions with a 2-for-3 day at the plate while Erika Lutgen recorded a hit as well in the loss. Senior pitcher Taurean Guzman pitched seven innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out five.

On Deck

Softball welcomes in the No. 1 Central Oklahoma Bronchos for a MIAA doubleheader on Friday at 2:00 pm before hosting Northeastern State on Saturday as part of Senior Day beginning at noon.

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

MSSU men's golf sixth after opening day of MIAA Championships

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Monkey Island, Okla. -- The Missouri Southern men's golf team is in sixth place after day one of the 2019 MIAA Men's Golf Championships hosted at Shangri-La Country Club.

The Lions shot a round-one 296 and followed it up with a round-two 290 to finish at 596 after day one. Southern will play a final 18 holes tomorrow to complete the tournament.

Jeremy Dunham and Taylor Haltom are both tied at 11th after they shot a one-over 145 on the day. Tripper Jensen is tied at 15th with a 147, while Logan Greer is tied for 24th at 149 and Tristan Haltom is tied for 29th at 151.








Lindenwood leads the field by three strokes after day one with a two-round 571. Northeastern State is second, followed by Washburn, Central Missouri, Central Oklahoma, the Lions, Missouri Western, Fort Hays State, Southwest Baptist and Lincoln to round out the team scores.

Teams will tee off tomorrow morning at 8:30 am for a final 18 holes to determine the MIAA Champion.




MSSU baseball drops 5-3 decision to Drury

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Ozark, Mo. -- The No. 21 ranked Missouri Southern baseball team ventured out of MIAA play today and fell 5-3 at Drury inside US Baseball Park.

The Lions (29-14) got two hits each from Freddie Landers, Denver Coffee and Matt Miller. Miller had two RBIs and a run scored, including a double and a home run. Million and Jon Leighton had a double each, while Leighton and Dexter Swims added a run each.

Joey Reeves started and went six innings, striking out five in the loss. Brennon Covington and River Wright threw in relief.

Drury (24-20) had six players with a hit each.








The Lions started the scoring with an RBI double from Million in the fourth inning, scoring Leighton. Drury scored twice in the fourth and the sixth to lead 4-1 after six innings.

Southern got a run back in the seventh to cut the lead in half (4-2) when Troy Gagan drove home Swims, but Drury answered in their half of the inning to go up 5-2. Miller added a solo shot in the eighth.

The Lions will be back in action this weekend when Southern plays host to Pittsburg State on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.


Southern's Landers, Parish named MIAA Player and Co-Pitcher of the Week


(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The No. 21 ranked Missouri Southern baseball team swept the MIAA weekly awards as Freddie Landers and Zach Parish were named Player and Co-Pitcher of the Week, the league announced today.

It is the third time the pair have won weekly honors this year. The pair also both swept the award together on March 19.

Landers, a senior from Grayslake, Ill., helped the Lions to a 3-1 week, including a sweep of Northeastern State at home. On the week, Landers hit .571 with an on-base percentage of .647 and a slugging percentage of .929. He had five doubles, including three in one game against NSU, four runs, eight hits and five RBIs. He added two walks, a hit by pitch and a stolen base. His final game against NSU, Landers went 5-for-5 with three doubles, three runs scored and two RBIs.








Zach Parish went up against his former team as he shut down Northeastern State in a 1-0 win for the Lions. Parish went eight innings, striking out 16 batters and allowing just three walks. Parish helped the Lions set the MSSU single-season strikeout record in the game and has 113 strikeouts on the season to lead the MIAA and is just three from tying the individual MSSU single-season record.

Parish shares the weekly award with Central Oklahoma's Dylan Hall.

The Lions are in action tonight at Drury, taking on the Panthers at USA Baseball Stadium.


MSSU women's golf 10th after second day of MIAA Championships

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Mayetta, Kan. - The Missouri Southern women's golf team is in 10th place after round two of the 2019 MIAA Women's Golf Tournament held at Firekeeper Golf Course.

The Lions are led by Kylie Carnes as the freshman shot a round-two score of 87 to end day two with a score of 171 and tied for 37th individually. Maggie Moore is 41st after an 82 today and a two-day total of 178, while Elizabeth Poe is 47th at 208. Taylor Boyett is 48th at 211.








Central Missouri leads the team totals with a two-day score of 600, nine strokes in front of Northeastern State. Nebraska-Kearney is third, followed by Central Oklahoma, Missouri Western, Northwest Missouri, Lindenwood, Fort Hays State, Southwest Baptist and the Lions to round out the team scores.

The Lions will tee off at 8:30 am tomorrow morning in the final round of the Championships.

MSSU's Desirea Buerge named MIAA Women's Field Athlete of the Week


(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern junior thrower Desirea Buerge has been named the MIAA Women's Field Athlete of the Week as the League announced its weekly honors today.

Buerge helped the Lions' throwers to a strong event at the Central Missouri Mule Relays this past weekend. Buerge had two event wins, two NCAA Automatic Qualifying Marks and a broke her own shot put record in a stellar day at the Relays.








Buerge started things off with a win in the discus, hitting an AQ of 54.42m (178-06) that was a little short of her previous best mark and school record set earlier in the season. Buerge followed that up with a win in the shot put as she eclipsed her own school record in the event with a distance of 16.21m (53-02.25), more than a foot in front of her previous best. The mark is an NCAA AQ in the event and is the second-best throw in the shot put this season.

Buerge and the Lions are in action this Friday at Pittsburg State.

Drendel named 2019 Outstanding Graduate at Missouri Southern State University

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Ryan Drendel takes a moment when considering his response to being named the 2019 Outstanding Graduate at Missouri Southern State University.

"I was really surprised, because there are so many other great students here," the senior English-Professional/Technical Writing and Spanish major says. "I was excited and grateful for the honor.

"But I don't really consider myself to be 'outstanding.' Whenever I've been offered an opportunity here, I've tried to grab it."

Drendel will be recognized during the annual Academic Achievement Recognition Ceremony, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, in Webster Hall's Corley Auditorium. The award will be presented by Troy Richards, president of MSSU's Alumni Board of Directors.








The list of opportunities the Naperville, Ill., native embraced as a student is impressive.

In 2018, Drendel was the first student from Missouri Southern to be accepted into the HealthStream internship program in Nashville, Tenn. Prior to that, he completed an internship with the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Ariz.

During his freshman year, he traveled to Paris and London as part of a trip offered through the English Department. Last year, he immersed himself in the study of Spanish during the fall semester at the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla in Pueblo City, Mexico.

A member of the Honors Program, Drendel says his experience there pushed him to step outside his comfort zone.

"It motivated me to try studying abroad, and I realized I wanted to go on a longer trip," he says. "The Honors Program is really incredible. It's nice community to be a part of, and to be around other students who are very driven."

He's also a member of the university's cross country and track and field teams, and served as one of the editors for bordertown, the campus literary publication. He's this year's Outstanding English Major honoree, and received first place in the Humanities Division of the 2017 MSSU Undergraduate Research Symposium (and second place in the same division in 2018).

He received the Russell and Gail Smith Award for Outstanding Science Writing for 2017-18, as well as the Keith Award for Outstanding Professional Writing Student.

"My parents are such hardworking people, and I know how hard they worked to invest in me and my brother," says Drendel. "So if there there's something I can do to make them proud and better myself, I don't want to let them down.








"I feel like one of the great things about Missouri Southern is there are so many things you can do here. You just have to be open to doing them."

In nominating Drendel for the Outstanding Graduate Award, Dr. Joey Brown noted that he "used his time at Missouri Southern to learn - as much as he can and about as many things as he can.

"But even more impressive is the person Ryan is ... (he) is the kind of passionate-to-learn, hard-working, creative, inventive, thoughtful students we all wish we had."

Brown, a professor in the English Department, cites Drendel as a "once-in-a-career student."

Next up for Drendel is graduate school. In August, he'll begin working on his Masters of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction at Northern Arizona University.

"My dream goal is to be a college professor of English," he says. "I want to continue on to get my Ph.D. and hopefully teach creative writing and literature."


Monday, April 22, 2019

MSSU women's golf ninth after first day of MIAA Championships

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Mayetta, Kan. -- The Missouri Southern women's golf team is in 9th place after day one of the 2019 MIAA Women's Golf Championships held at Firekeeper Golf Course.

Kylie Carnes leads the way for the Lions after day one and is tied for 32nd after shooting a first-round 84. Elizabeth Poe is in 43rd after a 93, while Maggie Moore is in 44th with a 96. Taylor Boyett is 48th after a 107.








Northeastern State is in first after a round-one 300 as a team. Central Missouri is in second, four strokes back, while Missouri Western, Northwest Missouri, Central Oklahoma, Nebraska-Kearney, Lindenwood, Fort Hays State, the Lions and Southwest Baptist to round out the team scores.

The teams will play 18 holes tomorrow as part of round two of the Championships.