MSSU baseball sweeps doubleheader from Washburn

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Topeka, Kan. -- The Missouri Southern baseball team took both ends of a double-header Friday at Washburn, taking game one, 8-6 in 11 innings and winning the nightcap 7-5.

Southern (21-13, 9-11 MIAA) got a superb day at the plate in game one from Alex Phillips as he went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, three runs scored and two home runs. Johnny Balsamo scored two runs, while Cory Canterburyhad a double, an RBI and a run scored. Alec Alvarezdrove in two, while Dan Lenz had an RBI and a run scored. Garan Stephens added a hit and a run.

Corbin Osburn started game one and went six innings, striking out two and allowing four earned runs. Cam Bednar threw three innings with a strikeout, while Brennon Covington threw two innings with three strikeouts to move to 1-0 on the season.

The Lions got a run in the first on an RBI single from Alvarez and made it 4-0 in the second on an RBI from Lenz and a two-run homer from Phillips.

After Washburn (10-24, 4-19 MIAA) had tied it up in the fourth, the Lions answered back with two runs in the fifth on runs from Phillips and Canterbury.

Washburn again tied it with single runs in the seventh and ninth, but another homer from Phillips proved to be the game-winner for the Lions in the 11th.

Game two saw the Lions score three runs in the first on back-to-back-to-back RBI doubles from Phillips, Canterbury and Alvarez.

Washburn scored single runs to get within one (3-2) in the fourth, but the Lions scored two in the fifth on homers from Canterbury and Million to go back up 5-2.

The Ichabods answered back with two in the seventh, but two more from Southern in the eighth proved to be the game-winners. RBIs from Easton Fortuna and Coffee highlighted the inning.

Canterbury went 2-for-5 in the game with a homer, two RBIs and runs scored. Alvarez added two hits, a run and an RBI, while Million had a home run, two runs scored and an RBI. Phillips was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, while Balsamo scored a run of his own. Fortuna and Coffee both drove in runs.

Jared Flores started for the Lions and looked sharp, going six innings and allowing just one earned run. Logan VanWey threw two innings, while Joey Reeves and Covington combined to close out the ninth. Covington got a save, his fourth of the year, while Flores moved to 4-2 on the season.

The series finale between the two teams will most likely be played on Saturday as weather in both Joplin and Topeka will make a game unplayable tomorrow. Stay tuned to www.mssulions.com for that location and time of the series finale.

Research project leads to healthy options at Missouri Southern concession stands

(From Southern News Service)

It’s game day, and that rumble in your stomach sends you toward the concession stand. The smell of hot dogs, hamburgers and freshly popped popcorn wafts toward you.

But the new digital menus offer a surprise. Grilled chicken wraps, fruit, and veggies with hummus might not be your traditional game grub. But thanks to grant funding and student research efforts, those healthy options are now available.

Andrea Cullers, an assistant kinesiology professor, says the idea came from her work as a member of the Joplin Area Food Action Network.

“We received a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to implement the Eat Smart in Parks program, which was put together by the University of Missouri Extension,” says Cullers. “The program is about how you can get healthier food at concession stands in state and city parks.”

Developed in 2011, the state extension program has put together nutrition guidelines to help educate and train staff members at Missouri parks on offering menu choices that contain healthy alternatives to the standard fare. Cullers says she saw the potential for expanding the program to the university.

She approached the Athletics Department to inquire if Southern’s concession stands would be open to participating. After getting the go-ahead, a group of students in her research methods class, members of the Kinesiology Club and others decided to survey fans at a football game and the downtown Third Thursday event last fall.

“We took green Southern bags and filled them with a variety of healthy snacks,” says Cullers. “We approached people to ask how much they spent at concession stands and asked if they’d be willing to buy healthier items if they were available.”

Seth Sockwell, a junior health promotion and wellness major, was among the students taking part in the effort.

“We talked to people sitting in the stands and also waited by the concession area to have people take a quick survey,” he says. “Overall, we had a really good response … especially from parents and older students. They definitely wanted to see healthier options than burgers or hot dogs.”

With the survey data in hand, Cullers says grant funding was used to purchase several digital menus that can be used at games to advertise the concessions menu – including new, low-calorie and healthy snack options. The new items became available during basketball games this spring.

“People are asking about them and ordering them,” she says. “We’re seeing a positive response from people.

“We applied for and received a grant through the Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to help continue the project. We’ve also worked with Joplin’s Parks & Recreation Department to incorporate healthier items into their concessions, and Carl Junction has as well. This spring and summer, we hope to work with Webb City.”

MSSU baseball falls 8-3 to Missouri Western

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

St. Joseph, Mo. -- The 25th-ranked Missouri Southern baseball team dropped an 8-3 decision on the road at Missouri Western.

The Lions (19-11, 7-9 MIAA) had a hit each from Johnny Balsamo, Cory Canterbury, Alec Alvarez, Mike Million, Alex Wheeler and Evan Cheng. Balsamo scored twice, while Canterbury, drove in two. Alvarez had an RBI, while Wheeler had a run scored.

Will Bausinger started and went four innings, striking out six, while allowing four runs on four hits. Joey Reeves, Jared Flores and Brennon Covington threw in relief.

Western (16-13, 9-7 MIAA) got a 3-for-4 day with three runs and an RBI from Bailey Zimmer. Dusty Stroup drove in three.

The Lions got on top first with an RBI single from Alvarez in the first.

Western answered back with three in the second, two in the fifth and one in the sixth before Southern answered back with two in the seventh.

A two-RBI double from Canterbury in the seventh provided the offense, scoring Balsamo and Wheeler.

Western tacked on two more runs to cap off the scoring.