It took a ninth-inning walk off win, but Missouri Southern won their third MIAA Tournament title and first since 1992. The 6-3 win earns a spot in the regional which is their first since the 2001 season.

Missouri Western struck first, plating a run in the first inning. The game would then settle into a pitcher dual as Mark Spreckles and Drew Noble put up zeros until MWSU struck again in the top of the seventh to take a 2-0 lead. Missouri Southern would answer in the bottom half of the inning, however, as they plated three and took a 3-2 lead. MWSU would fight back though as a lead-off triple by Shawn Egge put him in place to become the tieing run in the top of the ninth inning. Sam Ryan would then hit a three-run home run to give the Lions the title in the bottom of the ninth.

For Missouri Southern Michael McCoy was three for four with a run scored and an RBI. Dallas Burke was three for five in the game with two runs scored and an RBI. Ryan finished two for four with a run scored and four runs driven in. Thomas Wilson and Shaun Hoover also crossed the plate for MSSU. Noble went all nine innings, for MSSU’s third complete game in Kansas City, and struck out five to pick up his seventh win.

For the Griffons Michael Schulze was two for five with a run scored and an RBI. Kyle Simpson had a strong day at the plate going three for five with a run driven in. Egge was two for four with a run scored and Jake Schrader also scored a run. Spreckles allowed just four hits over 5.2 innings in a no decision.

Missouri Southern earns the conference’s automatic bid to the Central Regional while the rest of the MIAA teams will await the 9 p.m. selection show Sunday night