Joplin, Mo. – The Bearcats traveled to Joplin Tuesday afternoon, taking on the #10 ranked MSSU Lions in a single 9 inning game. An extra-inning game ended in favor of the Lions 11-10, moving the Bearcats to 9-14 (4-9 MIAA) on the season.
 
Drew Wagner started on the mound for the Bearcats, retiring the first Lion batter via strikeout. He gave up a walk and a single in the inning as well, but he got out of the inning unharmed. Jackson Soule led off the top of the second inning with a double. A batter later, Hayden Crabtree walked. Blake Lutgen then reached on a fielder's choice, moving Soule to third to give SBU runners at first and third, but they were stranded there. The Lions broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third, taking a 1-0 lead.
 
The Bearcats responded in the next inning. Hunter Hisky doubled to lead off the inning, and Jackson Soule walked. Both runners were moved up a base thanks to a Brett Mitchell sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch during the next at-bat allowed Hisky to score and moved Soule to third. The Bearcats continued their small ball, scoring Soule on a ground out, taking a 2-1 lead. The Lions got a run back to tie things up at the end of the fourth. In the 5^th inning, Caleb Sneed hit a two out single, sparking a two out rally. Blake Hobbs was then hit by a pitch, and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Hunter Hisky then walked to load the bases. It was Jackson Soule coming up clutch, driving in two runs with a double to right center.
 
Missouri Southern would not be shut down, scoring 4 in the 5^th inning to regain a 6-4 lead. Blake Lutgen reached on an error in the 6^th inning, keeping the Bearcat offense going. Tyler Mathys followed with a single up the middle and both were moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Luke Winfrey. Thanks to a passed ball, Lutgen was able to make it home and Mathys advanced to third. In the same at-bat, Caleb Sneed drove one through the right side, scoring Mathys to even things up at 6-6. The Lions scored their 7^th run in the bottom of the 6^th and continued to threaten, but Hunter Hisky caught a runner trying to steal third and a 5-4-3 double play ended the inning. Brett Mitchell doubled to lead off the 7^th inning, coming around to score thanks to a Hayden Crabtree single, making the game 7-7.
 
The home team scored another two in their half of the 7^th, but SBU scored 3 in the 8^th to pull ahead late in the game. The Bearcats kept MSSU scoreless in the 8^th inning, but the Lions scored one in the 9^th to send the game into extra innings. Missouri Southern scored in the 10^th, taking the tightly contested game 11-10.
 
Jackson Soule led the Bearcat offense going 3-5 and driving in 3 RBIs on the afternoon. Hayden Crabtree drove in 4 RBIs going 2-4 on the day. Caleb Sneed, Hunter Hisky, and Tyler Mathys also had two hits.
 
The Bearcats return home for their next competition, starting a three game series with Emporia State on Friday, March 22 beginning at 3 PM.