Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior lefty Zach Litchen struck out 11 and allowed no earned runs over six innings to help Missouri Southern State beat Nebraska-Kearney, 12-2 (7 innings), Sunday afternoon in Joplin.

Also recording 11 hits, the Lions (11-7, 4-2) swept the three game series.

Litchen (1-1) evened his record by allowing just three hits and issuing only two walks. Throwing 101 pitches, nine of his K's were of the swinging variety. Relief pitcher Will Bausinger then worked a scoreless seventh that featured a 4-6-3 double play and a game ending strikeout.

MSSU gave Litchen all the support he needed by scoring six times in the second inning. Senior designated hitter Brett Graham (2 for 4, two runs) started things with a solo homer and third baseman Max Hogan (3 for 4, two RBI's) brought home the last run with a triple to right center. A Loper error made three of the runs unearned.

In the next inning, catcher Dave Prost haunted the Lopers (7-8, 0-3) again by belting a two-run homer to left. He finished 2 for 3 with three runs scored and those two RBI's.

UNK was paced by junior first baseman Ricky Trammell (Kansas City) who went 2 for 3 with a run and RBI.

The Lopers host the Peru State Bobcats Tuesday at Memorial Field. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.