Joplin, Mo. --- Tenth-ranked Missouri Southern scored nine runs in the fourth and fifth innings to turn a 4-0 deficit into a 9-5 win Sunday afternoon in the first game of the NCAA Central Sub-Region final. With the victory, the Lions forced the "if necessary" game which will begin at roughly 3 p.m. 

The Mavericks opened the top of the first with second baseman Matthew Fleischhacker reaching base after getting hit by a pitch.  Shortstop Aidan Byrne followed with a walk, bringing right fielder Jackson Hauge to the plate. 

Hauge drove a single through the right side, scoring Fleischhacker and moving Byrne to third.  Centerfield Ryan Wickman then laced a single to center field, scoring Byrne and moving Hauge to third.  

The Mavericks picked up their third run of the game when Hauge scored on a groundout off the bat of third baseman Mikey Gottschalk as the Mavericks took a 3-0 lead after a half inning. 

The Mavericks picked up another run in the top of the third as Gottschalk walked to lead off the inning. Left fielder Adam Weed grounded out to move Gottschalk to second before he moved to third on a wild pitch. 

First baseman Adam Schneider then singled through the right side to score Gottschalk and push the Maverick advantage to 4-0. 

Missouri Southern got three runs back in the bottom of the fourth when first baseman Matt Miller doubled down the right field line, scoring Henry Kusiak who had reached on an infield single to third.  

Will Doherty then walked to load the bases before Cheyton Beck singled up the middle, scoring two and cutting the Maverick lead to 4-3.  Maverick starter Chandler Fochs then got a flyout to end the damage.  

The Lions would six runs in the bottom of the fifth to open up a 9-4 lead.  Missouri Southern took advantage of five hits and three walks.   

Fochs worked four-plus innings allowing three runs on six hits while striking out two and walking one en route to earning the no-decision. 

Neither team would have much of a threat until the top of the ninth when Wickman led off with a single to left before Gottschalk was hit by a pitch, forcing the Lions to bring in a relief pitcher. 

Both runners would advance on a passed ball when Weed struck out. Schneider grounded to first, scoring Wickman, before Baker drew a two-out walk.  Lion reliever Cale McCallister then stopped the threat with a strikeout to end the game.  

The winner of the second game this afternoon will face the winner of the other Central Sub-Region, either Augustana or Central Missouri.