Taylor Hodges, Sports Information Director

PARKVILLE, Mo. – The Lions baseball team (35-13, 22-4 AMC) had an efficient win in game one of Park University (19-18, 11-15 AMC), winning 15-0 on 18 hits. But the Lions fell short in game two, falling 6-4 to the Pirates.

Game one seemed to be set on cruise control, as the Lions nearly scored in every inning, including back-to-back innings where the visitors scored five runs.

The Lions went without a long ball in the first game, but Isaac Howeth was able to go 4-for-4, including a triple, with three RBIs. He also crossed the plate three times in the contest.

De'Mikyle Holmes was the only Lion with five official at-bats, getting four hits on those chances and bringing in two runs. He scored two runs, just like five of his other teammates. Josh Sears, Zach Sanders and Dom Pisano each had three hits in the game.

Alex Huey earned his eighth win on the year, going the full seven innings while only giving up three hits and striking out five.

The Pirates came out stronger in game two, going up 2-0 in the bottom of the first. The Lions were able to tie it up in the top of the second after James Dodd stole home and Howeth was brought in from second on a Bryce Lester single.

Park would regain the lead with a run in the fourth inning, and they would add to it with another run in the fifth. The Lions would tie it up again with another two-run inning in the top of the sixth.

Howeth got on base after the Park shortstop committed an error. Holmes would follow that with a single that advanced Howeth to third. Holmes would get to second on the throw in. Sears stepped up to the plate and drove in both runners with a double to tie the game.

But the Pirates continued their one-run streak, scoring a run in the seventh and eighth innings to take a 6-4 lead, where the score would remain until the game was completed.

Jacob Sawyers got the start, and he struck out six in his five and two-thirds innings. Tyrek White came on in relief in the sixth, going two and one-third, striking out three batters.

The Lions and Pirates will complete the three-game series on Saturday with a single game at noon. The Lions will have a chance to clinch the American Midwest Conference Regular Season Title and earn the No. 1 seed heading into the conference tournament on May 1-4.