MSSU baseball improves to 2-0 with win over Central Oklahoma

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Edmond, Okla. -- The Missouri Southern baseball team scored five unanswered runs over the fourth and fifth innings and took out Central Oklahoma today in the Edmond First Pitch Classic.

Southern (2-0) got a strong start from Zac Shoemaker as he went six innings, striking out eight and walking just one, while scattering four hits. Cole Woods threw the final three innings, striking out three to pick up the save.

Lee Musgraves had a home run and drove in three runs, while Dexter Swims, Tommy Stevenson and Brad Willis had two hits each. Henry Kusiak and Willis scored twice, while Musgraves and Clay Milas scored a run each.

Central Oklahoma (2-1) scored two runs in the first, but the Lions answered with a run in the second on a RBI from Willis, scoring Kusiak.

After another run for the Bronchos in the third, the Lions scored three runs in the fourth to go up 4-3. Kusiak scored on a wild pitch, while Swims singled home Willis. Stevenson then singled home Milas for the final run of the inning.

Southern got two more in the fifth on a homer from Musgraves, scoring Willis.

The Lions will be back in action tomorrow afternoon as Southern takes on Southwestern Oklahoma at 1 pm.

Balanced attack leads MSSU women to 92-64 win over Rogers State

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern women's basketball team scored a season-high 92 points as the Lions defeated visiting Rogers State 92-64 inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center today.

Southern (7-12, 4-7 MIAA) had three players in double-figures led by Amber Buch with 15. Chasidee Owens had a double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds, while Layne Skiles had 12 points on 3-of-4 from long-range. Destiny Cozart and Kaiulani Jones had nine points each, while Brooke Stauffer and Madi Stokes scored eight. Stokes added eight rebounds and three blocks.

Rogers State (3-19, 1-12 MIAA) was led by Julie Luna with 13 points, while Darian Jackson added ten rebounds.

Southern jumped out to a 15-6 lead after a three from Skiles with 6:19 left in the quarter, but RSU fought back and scored five-straight before a putback from Owens stopped the run and gave the Lions a 17-11 lead with 4:08 left in the first quarter. A jumper from Madi Stokes with two minutes to play gave the Lions a 21-15 lead, while a bucket from stokes with 45 seconds left made the score 26-15. Southern led 26-19 after one.

A layup from Stokes with 1:56 left in the second quarter pushed the Lions' lead to ten (40-30), while a fast-break bucket from Owens with under a minute gave the Lions a 42-30 lead at the break.

A layup from Owens with 8:23 left in the 3rd quarter kept the Lions' lead at ten (44-34), while a three from Skiles, her third of the day, gave the Lions a 47-34 lead with 8:13 left. A pair of free throws from Emily Kuntze as the quarter was winding down gave the Lions a 67-44 lead after three.

A jumper from Megan Jackson with 3:20 left in the game gave the Lions a 31-point lead (88-57) and that proved to be the largest margin of the game.

Southern shot 55 percent from the field and out rebounded Rogers State 42-32. The Lions led from start to finish.

Southern will be back in action on February 6 as the Lions travel to Washburn for a 5:30 pm tip.

Three-point barrage not enough as MSSU men fall to Rogers State 105-93

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Braelon Walker and Elyjah Clark had eight three's each, but the 13th-ranked Missouri Southern men's basketball team fell at home to Rogers State, 105-93.

Southern (16-4, 9-2 MIAA) was led by Walker and Clark's afternoon as the pair score 26 points each. Cam Martin had 14 points and eight rebounds to go with four blocks, while Reggie Tharp had ten points and six assists.

Rogers State (18-4, 10-3 MIAA) had six score in double-figures led by 21 points from Marques Sumner.

The Hillcats jumped out to an 11-6 lead after a three with 15:39 left in the 1st half, and another three from RSU gave the Hillcats a 14-6 lead with just under 15 to play. Lambert answered back with a three of his own with 14:36 on the clock, and Clark hit a longball with 14:18 to get the Lions within four at 16-12.

RSU led 21-12 after a layup with 12 minutes on the clock and a put back from Martin with 11:40 to go made it 21-14. Back-to-back three's from Clark, the second coming with 8:53 left got the Lions within two (26-24) and another from Clark with 8:16 left made it 28-27, RSU. The Lions were within two again (35-33) after a three from Walker with 4:24 to go, but the Hillcats went on a 9-1 run and led 44-34 with 2:18 to go.

A late three from Walker as the shot clock was expiring got the Lions within six (48-42) and the Lions trailed 50-42 going into the locker room.

A pair of three's from Walker to start the half (his fifth and sixth of the game) got the Lions within two (50-48), but the Hillcats answered back with a three of their own. The Lions trailed 62-57, but a three from Walker and a pair of free throws from Walker tied the game at 62 with 13 minutes left on the clock.

RSU went on a 9-2 run to lead 71-64 after a three-point play from Brewster Peacock with 9:15 to go, and the Hillcats led 75-64 with 7:49 on the clock. A three from the Hillcats with 5:44 on the clock put RSU up 82-68 and forced a Lions' timeout. Southern got as close as eight late, but couldn't complete the comeback.

The Lions made 18 three's on the night and shot 53 percent from long-range.

Southern will be back in action on February 6 as the Lions travel to Washburn for a 7:30 pm tip.