Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (Rolla, Mo.) – Michael Lockett (O'Fallon, Mo./Timberland)'s single to left field with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Missouri S&T Miners to 5-4 win over Truman State in the opener of a four-game series on Saturday afternoon. S&T trailed 4-1 going into the bottom of the seventh before scoring four times over the final three innings. The Bulldogs used a couple of big innings to take the nightcap 15-3.

In the opener the Miners (11-12, 6-4 GLVC) scored the game's first run in the second inning. Lance Portwood (Edmond, Okla./Edmond Santa Fe) led off the inning with a single to center and advanced to third on Trevor Karbowski (Standish, Mich./Sterling Central)'s double into the left field corner. After a strikeout Matt Robaska (Parkville, Mo./Park Hill South) drove in Portwood with a sacrifice fly to center.

Truman State (10-11, 6-4 GLVC) scored twice in the third to take the lead thanks to a couple of errors by the S&T defense. The Bulldogs added to their lead with another unearned run in the fourth and got their final tally in the fifth on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded.

The Miners began their comeback in the seventh. With two outs Robaska walked then Brett Yasui (Mililani, Hawaii/Kamahameha) singled to left. Tyler Schutt (Katy, Texas/Cinco Ranch) came into run for Robaska and both runners moved up on a passed ball. Nick Ulrich (St. Louis, Mo./Vianney) came through hitting a 1-2 pitch back through the middle to cut the Truman lead to 4-3.

S&T tied it in the eighth. Ethan Krenning (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South) led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on sacrifice by Lockett. Portwood drove home Krenning with a double down the left field line to tie the contest. Portwood moved to third on a groundout by Karbowski, but was left stranded there when Matt Reschke (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South) flew out to end the inning.

The Bulldogs got the go ahead run in scoring position in their half of the ninth, but Tom Laudadio (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) came out of the bullpen to retire the only hitter he faced to keep the game tied. The bottom half of the inning started well for the Miners as Jake Brower (Wentzville, Mo./Timberland) led off with a single to center, but was picked off first for the first out. After a groundout, Ulrich singled through the left side and went to third on Reed Brown (Rogers, Ark./Heritage)'s double down the left field line. Krenning walked on four pitches to load the bases to setup Lockett. He lined a 1-1 offering over the shortstop to bring home Ulrich.

S&T finished with 11 hits in the contest and was led by Brown, Portwood and Ulrich with two apiece. John Auble (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South) got the start for the Miners going the first 6.2 innings allowing four runs, one earned, on eight hits. He struck out four and walked two. Ryan Bearden (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood), Micah Dohlen (Kent, Wash./Kent Lake) and Laudadio combined to throw the final 2.1 innings allowing no runs on one hit while striking out three.

In the night cap the Bulldogs got a run in the third to take the early lead. Blake Deaton doubled to the gap in left center to drive home Paul Trenhaile. Truman then batted around in the fourth and sixth innings scoring 12 runs on 10 hits in those two frames combined to bust the game wide open. The Bulldogs also scored two runs in the fifth.

S&T got a run in the fourth and two more in the sixth but struggled to get any offense going as it was held to eight hits in the second game. Brower finished the contest with two hits. Aaron Bedsworth (New Bloomfield, Mo./New Bloomfield) took the loss in the contest allowing four runs on six hits in 3.1 innings of work. He did strikeout seven hitters, but issued four free passes.

The Miners and Bulldogs concluded their four-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 12 p.m. The first game will be the seven inning affair which will be followed by the nine inning game.