Joplin, Mo. – Despite a late inning surge, the Maryville baseball team fell to Missouri Western 5-4 in the second game of the MIAA/GLVC Crossover Saturday afternoon. Dominic Connolly and Wyatt Elbe each drove in a pair of runs to pace the Saints offense in the game played at Warren Turner Field in Joplin, Mo.
 
What Happened: The Saints cracked the scoreboard in the home half of the second inning as Austin Tapella opened the frame with a double and scored on an RBI single by Connolly to put Maryville on top 1-0. 
 
The Griffons took advantage of a pair of hits and a throwing error to even the game at 1-1 in the fourth and then grabbed the lead in the fifth on a two-run triple and a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-1.
 
The Saints cut into the lead in the sixth as Cade Schares opened the frame with a double and scored as Connolly hit his second RBI single of the day to make the score 4-2. Missouri Western got the run back in the seventh with an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-2.
 
Maryville battled back in the ninth as Elbe ripped a bases loaded single to score a pair of runs to get Maryville to within a run at 5-4 with one out. But the Griffons forced a double play on the next at bat to secure the win.
 
Winning Pitcher: Justin Wood (1-1)
Save: Brian Tan (1)
Losing Pitcher:  Ryan Louck (1-1)
Hitting leader: Connolly – 2-for-4, 2 RBI
                         Elbe – 1-for-5, 2 RBI
 
Records:
Maryville – 2-2
Missouri Western – 2-7
 
Up Next: Maryville finishes play in the MIAA/GLVC Crossover Sunday as the Saints take on Washburn. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.