JOPLIN, Mo. - The Lewis University baseball team lost, 13-6, to Missouri Southern State, and 16-14 to University of Mary in a doubleheader Sunday at the MSSU Lion Classic.

GAME 1 TEAM RECORDS
Missouri Southern State 9-2 | Lewis 1-1

GAME 1 SUMMARY
George Bilecki (Chicago, Ill./Marist) led off the top of the second with a solo home run to put Lewis on the board first. MSSU answered with six runs in the bottom half, ending Ryan Manikowski's (New Lenox, Ill./Providence) day on the mound and giving him the loss (0-1).

The Flyers got a run back in the top of the third as Mikey Kocen (Beach Park, Ill.) doubled home Michael Alt (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly). The Lions added one run each in the third and fourth innings to make it 8-2.

Each of Lewis' first four batters reached in the top of the fifth, culminating in a two-RBI single by Kocen, who later scored on a double by Cain Headrick (Custer Park, Ill./Providence Catholic) to make it 8-6 MSSU. Luke Brown (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) threw back-to-back scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth to keep the Flyers close.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Lions pulled away again with five runs in the frame to make it 13-6, and neither side scored the rest of the game.

GAME 2 TEAM RECORDS
University of Mary 1-2 | Lewis 1-2

GAME 2 SUMMARY
After a scoreless first inning, both offenses started putting up big numbers, with UMary striking first with four runs in the top of the second. Lewis came right back with six runs of its own in the bottom half.

Two walks and a single loaded the bases for the Flyers, and an error by the Marauders brought home the first two runs. After a walk and a fielder's choice to bring in another run, Kocen hit a two-run triple and Thomas Fox (Norfolk, Va./Norfolk Christian) doubled to drive him in and make it 6-4 Lewis.

UMary scored one in the third and two in the fourth to grab a 7-6 lead. The Flyers pounced in the bottom of the fourth as Kocen hit a two-run homer to put Lewis back on top.

Later in the inning, a two-RBI double by Angelo Cantello made it 10-7 Flyers. The Marauders scored one in the top of the fifth, and retook the lead with four more runs in the sixth.

UMary kept coming, sending four more runners across the plate in the seventh to go ahead 16-10. Lewis punched right back in the bottom half, with Chris McDevitt (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita) hitting a leadoff double followed by four straight singles. A sacrifice fly later in the inning cut the deficit to 16-14.

The Flyers threatened in the eighth inning, having runners on second and third after a double by Alt, but could not score. The Marauders held on for the 16-14 win.

UP NEXT
Lewis baseball will face St. Francis (Ill.) in Joliet, Ill. Wednesday (Feb. 21) at 3 p.m. CT.