PITTSBURG — The Missouri Southern State University baseball team overcame a 2-0 deficit with a three-run fifth inning and the visiting Lions handed Pittsburg State University a 4-3 defeat Wednesday (Mar. 28) at Al Ortolani Field.

MSSU (19-9, 7-7 MIAA) scored three runs on three hits in the pivotal fifth inning against Pitt State (19-10, 11-6 MIAA).

The Gorillas countered with a game-tying run in the bottom of the frame when Joven Afenir knocked in Colton Pogue, who led off the inning with a double.

Reliever Conner Davis (1-1) issued three straight walks to open the seventh frame and the Lions plated the go-ahead run on Alec Alvarez' RBI grounder. Joey Reeves (2-0) limited the Gorillas to one hit in four innings of relief work to pick up the win.

Pogue led Pitt State with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, while Afenir, Reece Garvie and Dallas Reed all collected two hits.

The Gorillas will open a three-game MIAA series against Washburn University Thursday (Mar. 29) at 2 p.m. at Al Ortolani Field.