Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Statistics

JOPLIN, Mo. — Jake Stevenson pitched six strong innings on the mound and Evan Thomas drove in four runs at the plate to help Pittsburg State salvage a doubleheader split against Missouri Southern Wednesday (Mar. 6).

Southern's Drew Noble outdueled Pitt State's Matt Stalcup in game one as the Lions claimed a 4-1 victory, before the Gorillas capitalized on a strong start from Stevenson and three innings of solid relief from James Fitzgearlds in a 5-2 win in the nightcap.

The split leaves the Gorillas 6-3 overall and 4-3 in MIAA play, while the Lions slide to 8-5 overall and 4-5 in conference action.

Pitt State grabbed a quick run in the top of the first inning in game one when Ryan Bilovesky singled home Ryan Ventura, who led off the game with a base hit.

Southern pushed ahead with a pair of unearned runs in the fourth inning and the Lions tacked on two more insurance runs in the fifth.

The Gorillas, who stranded 11 base runners in the contest, left one or more runners on base in every inning including stranding the bases loaded in the seventh.

In the nightcap, Thomas had an RBI single in the third inning, a successful squeeze bunt in the seventh and a two-run single in the ninth inning to pace the Pitt State offense.

Stevenson scattered six hits and three walks in six innings of work, allowing just one run in the fourth inning. Fitzgearlds earned his second save of the season with three effective innings of relief, allowing a run and four hits while fanning two batters.

Pitt State will return home to Al Ortolani Field to host MIAA rival Washburn in a three-game series Friday and Saturday (Mar. 8-9).