JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team suffered a setback in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament against the No. 9 nationally-ranked Missouri Southern State Lions.

Northwest drops to 21-29 overall as Missouri Southern improves to 38-13 on the year. 

Missouri Southern wasted no time in the top of the first, knocking in three runs on four hits to take the early 3-0 lead. 

Trey Morris notched his 12th round-tripper of the season, on a solo shot to left to give Northwest its first run of the afternoon. 

The Lions broke the game open in the fourth with seven runs on six hits to take a 10-1 lead before Bearcat starter Quinn Mason (2-6) handed the ball off to Andrew Clark. 

The Bearcats couldn't scratch across another run in the late innings, as the Lions took a seven-inning 12-1 victory in game one. 

Northwest will return to Warren Turner Field tomorrow, May 4, for game two. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

NOTES:
Morris collected his 15th homer of the season...Cole Slibowski and Sam Wornson each had a hit.