05.15.24
By: Spencer Greathouse
Joplin, Mo. - The NCAA Division II Baseball selection show was Sunday evening, and the Lions were selected as the two seed in the Central Region. For the second consecutive year, the Lions will be one of two hosts for the Central Region Tournament, the other being one-seeded Central Missouri. The tournament will take place Thursday, May 16 through Sunday, May 19, featuring the two-seeded Lions, three-seeded Arkansas Tech, six-seeded Arkansas-Monticello, and seven-seeded Harding. More information regarding the tournament can be found here.
"Game Two"
Teams: Two-Seeded Missouri Southern (42-13, 24-9 MIAA) vs Seven-Seeded Harding (36-17, 23-10 GAC)
Date: May 16 (Thursday)
First Pitch: 5:00pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Sites: Warren Turner Field
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Next Up
- The winner advances to "Game Four" at 5:00pm on Friday to face the winner of "Game One" between three-seeded Arkansas Tech and six-seeded Arkansas-Monticello.
- The loser will play in "Game Three" at 1:00pm on Friday against the loser of "Game One" between three-seeded Arkansas Tech and six-seeded Arkansas-Monticello.
Last Time Out
- The Lions defeated the Central Missouri Mules in the MIAA Tournament Championship, claiming the title as "Tournament Champions" for the first time since 2015.
- The game lasted four hours, featuring 18 runs and 15 hits from Missouri Southern and 16 runs, 16 hits from Central Missouri.
- Of MSSU's 15 hits, 10 went for extra bases in seven doubles and three home runs.
- Henry Kusiak was 3-5 with a home run and a double. He drove in 4 runs, scored 3, and walked twice.
- Ethan Clark finished 3-6 with a double, 4 RBI, and 2 runs scored.
- Will Doherty was 3-7 in the game, all three hits going for extra bases in 2 doubles and a home run. He recorded 3 RBI and 2 runs scored as well.
- Laif Hultine was credited with the win, tossing 3.2 innings in relief. He gave up 0 runs on just 2 hits, striking out 5 in the process.
- As the two seed, Missouri Southern had a perfect MIAA tournament run with a 5-0 record, featuring two wins over Northwest Missouri, a 9-5 win over three-seeded Pittsburg State, an 8-4 win over five-seeded Washburn, then an 18-16 victory over the one seed in Central Missouri.
Missouri Southern Quick Hitters
- Henry Kusiak has broken seven records this year, six Missouri Southern records and one MIAA record. At MSSU, he became the program's sole leader in career runs batted in, career hits, total bases, at-bats, extra base hits, and games played. He also set the MIAA record for most career at-bats. He has started all 55 contests this season, leading the Lions with a .403 batting average, .529 on base percentage, and .720 slugging percentage. Of his 85 hits, 19 have gone for two bases, 3 triples, and 14 home runs. He has driven in 59 runs, scored 75, and walked 43 times this year. Additionally, Kusiak has been named the MIAA Hitter of the Week twice this season, earned first team All-MIAA and Gold Glove honors, was named MIAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and was selected to the NCBWA All-Region second team.
- Will Doherty is hitting .397 this season, recording 91 hits. Of those hits, 24 have been doubles, 3 triples, and 11 home runs. He leads the team in the runs batted in category as well, driving in 72 this spring. Doherty was named third team All-MIAA Third Base by the conference, also named to the MIAA All-Tournament team.
- Drew Townsend has drawn an NCAA-leading 56 walks on the year, hitting .327 at the plate. Of his 68 hits, 12 have been doubles, 1 triple, and 15 home runs for 41 RBI. He was named to the MIAA All-Tournament team and NCBWA second team All-Region.
- Garrett Rice is hitting .331 on the year, collecting 16 doubles, 1 triple, and 9 home runs for a .589 slugging percentage. He has driven in 62 runs and scored 44 himself.
- Ethan Clark earned MIAA All-Tournament team honors, now hitting .351 on the year. He has recorded 19 doubles, 3 triples, and 1 home run, driving in 48 runs and scoring 47 himself.
- Cole Gayman has won 11 games in 15 starts this year, tying the program's single season record. Those performances have led to five total MIAA POTW honors, two NCBWA Central Region Pitcher of the Week awards, and one NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week honor. Over his 92.2 innings pitched this year, he has given up 60 hits, 24 earned runs, and 37 walks, striking out 87 batters in the process. He is holding opposing hitters to a .181 average and has an ERA of 2.33. His impressive performance against Pittsburg State led him to MIAA All-Tournament team honors, and was just named NCBWA first team All-Region.
- Keaton Anderson has started five games this season, holding a 5-0 record with an ERA of 3.06. Over his 50.0 innings pitched, Anderson has struck out 36 batters and is holding opponents to a .228 batting average.
- Out of the bullpen, Laif Hultine has recorded 6 saves and Kyle Moore 5 this season, combining for 66 strikeouts as Moore has 35 and Hultine has 31 on the year.
The Opponents
- Arkansas Tech was selected as the three seed, entering with a 38-18 (23-10 GAC) record this spring.
- The Wonder Boys advanced to the GAC Tournament Championship and took game one against Arkansas-Monticello, but fell 8-5 in the if necessary game.
- UAT had seven members named All-Conference; outfielder Keaton Ranallo and relief pitcher Grant Shahan were selected to the first team, starting pitcher John Gray, relief pitcher Will Horton, and first baseman Logan Schwenke were second team selections, and relief pitcher Mason Griffin and third baseman Brendyn Bard were honorable mentions.
- Arkansas-Monticello earned the six seed, compiling a 32-22 (23-10 GAC) record.
- Their tournament run included a 3-2 victory over Southern Arkansas, a 7-6 win over Harding, a 9-3 loss against Arkansas Tech, followed by an 8-5 win over UAT to claim the Tournament Championship
- The Boll Weevils had 13 All-GAC Awards, including the Coach of the Year in John Harvey and the Freshman of the Year in outfielder Camden Tanner. Along with Tanner, starting pitcher Connor Irvine was selected to the first team. Relief pitcher Nelson Mercado and shortstop Aidan Garrett were named honorable mentions.
- Harding was given the seven seed with a 36-17 (23-10 GAC) record on the year.
- They won both best-of-three games against Northwestern Oklahoma in the first round, then took down Arkansas Tech 5-1, but fell to UAM and later Arkansas Tech to end their GAC Tournament run.
- Six Bisons were named All-GAC, including Maddox Long who was the conference's Pitcher of the Year. Along with Long, pitcher Davis Welch was also a first team selection. Cooper Newsom, Michael Dewald, and Collin Helms were named to the second team, and Merritt Jay was an honorable mention.
In the Rankings
- Southern was ranked #7 in the NCBWA National Rankings on May 8
- The Lions were selected as the #2 seed in the NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings
- The ABCA has been coming out with a National Poll since the middle of March, placing the Lions at #5 most recently
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