Press Release

April 17, 2009

20 Hits, 14 Runs Not Enough Against Lions

Box Score

JOPLIN, Mo. - Bill Disselhoff finished a triple away from the cycle to lead Northwest Missouri State (17-24, 9-18 MIAA) to a season-high 20 hits in a 20-14 loss to Missouri Southern (28-14, 19-8 MIAA) tonight at Joe Becker Stadium.

Seven Bearcats recorded multi-hit games in the largest team output in a single game since March 21, 2008. Northwest hit four doubles for the fifth time this season.

Trevor Conner led off the game with a single and later scored after Disselhoff hit his seventh double of the season. The Bearcats scored another three runs in the second inning with back-to-back-to-back hits from Kreed Kurtz, Matt Stice and Conner.

Jeff Gradel, Jr., retired the next six Missouri Southern batters in order until the Lions exploded for an eight-run fourth inning to take a 9-4 lead. The Lions added another nine runs in the sixth inning to take an 18-4 lead and backed the Bearcats into a possible run-rule scenario for the second time in seven days.

Northwest batted through the order in the top of the seventh and scored seven runs to avoid the run-rule and close the gap to 18-11. Disselhoff led off with his seventh home run of the season and added another hit with a single to right field for the Bearcat's seventh hit of the inning.

Both teams traded a pair of runs in the eighth and ninth innings to finish with 34 combined runs and 42 combined hits.

Luke Lavicky posted his second straight multi-hit game with a three-of-four performance, two runs and an RBI. Jon Henne, Jr., went three-of-six for his 20th career multi-hit game along with a run and RBI. Conner extended his hitting streak to eight games after going three-of-five with three runs and a pair of RBIs.

Up Next: Northwest continues the series tomorrow with a pair of seven-inning games. First pitch from Joe Becker Stadium is 1 p.m.