KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Missouri S&T used some late heroics in both games Wednesday to secure its first sweep of a doubleheader in nearly a month, winning at Truman State 3-2 in eight innings and 12-5 after scoring eight runs in the final two innings of the nightcap.

The Miners fell behind 2-0 in the opening inning of game one as the Bulldogs got their first two runners on base and both scored on infield outs. From that point, S&T starter Zac Helton (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette) held Truman to just five hits over the next five-plus innings to allow the Miners to tie the contest.

Will Morrison (Rolla, Mo./Rolla) led off the fourth inning with an opposite field home run to cut the lead in half, then the Miners tied it in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Zach Carter (Perkins, Okla./Perkins-Tryon) and Matt Kempin (Wichita, Kan./Trinity Academy).

Truman State had a golden opportunity to win in the game in the bottom of the seventh as its first two hitters reached base with hits. After a sacrifice bunt, Helton intentionally walked pinch-hitter Pete Jurich to load the bases and turned the game over to Zach Gronek.

Gronek proceeded to get the Miners out of the inning by striking out Jordan Howe and getting Luke Crader to fly out.

With the momentum gained from getting out of the jam, S&T got a run across in the eighth. Morrison walked to start the inning, then Carter doubled to right center. Kempin followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Morrison with the eventual winning run.

Gronek, who got the victory in relief, got three straight fly ball outs in the bottom half of the eighth to wrap up the contest.

S&T outhit the Bulldogs 10-8 in game one with four Miners getting two hits apiece.

The Miners used the long ball to grab an early lead in the nightcap, then used some small ball in the sixth to regain the lead before getting another big blow in the inning.

After Brandon Cogan (Missouri City, Texas/Hightower) was hit by a pitch to start the game and Morrison got a one-out single, Carter belted a three-run homer to give S&T a 3-0 lead. The Miners added to their lead in the third when Morrison hit his second homer of the day to start the frame.

Truman State cut the lead in half on Keaton Jones' home run in the third, then tied it two innings later on RBI singles by Crader and Devon Myers. However, S&T answered by putting five runs on the board in the sixth to take the lead for good.

A throwing error opened the inning, allowing Cogan to reach base, then Drew Davenport (McHenry, Ill./McHenry West) drew a walk. After both runners were moved ahead on a sacrifice bunt by Morrison, the Miners got back-to-back RBI singles from Carter and Kempin to take a 6-4 lead.

That was followed by a three-run homer by pinch-hitter Helton to put S&T up by five.

The Bulldogs got a solo homer in the sixth from Brad Budd, but the Miners added to the lead in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Carter and another homer by Helton with a man on.

Morrison had four hits for the Miners in the second game, while Carter and Helton each drove in five. Kempin also had three hits for S&T (15-29). Gronek also picked up the win in the second game as well, making him the first Miner to be the winning pitcher in both games of a doubleheader since Kevin Hill did so against Lindenwood on March 3, 1994.

The doubleheader sweep for the Miners was their first since March 24 when they took both games from Maryville.

S&T resumes Great Lakes Valley Conference play Saturday when it hosts Quincy in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.