FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mounties Drop Close One to Missouri-St. Louis, 5-3
 
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Mansfield held a late 3-1 lead, but Missouri-St. Louis rallied to win a 5-3 game in nine innings Tuesday afternoon at Jack Russell Stadium.
 
Eric Harms recorded two of the Mountaineer's six hits, including a triple, and batted in a run.
 
After two scoreless, UMSL (6-1) struck first with an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning. The Triton's lead held until the top of the fifth when Harms drove in Ryan Paige who led-off the inning by reaching on an error.
 
Mansfield took its first lead of the game in the seventh by loading the bases for Owen Lukens who singled home Wes Custer. Facing another bases-loaded situation with two outs, Taylor Hillson came through with an RBI knock to score Tanner Klein, but Jerry Chavarria was thrown out at home trying to score from second.
 
With Mansfield leading 3-1, UMSL answered in the bottom of the inning, producing three runs on five hits to regain the lead. The Tritons added an insurance run in the eighth to extend the lead to 5-3.
 
UMSL's Jon Shanker earned the win in relief allowing one hit and two walks while striking out a pair in 1.1 innings worked. Austin Simokaitis picked up his fifth save of the year.
 
Luke Hils took the loss for Mansfield, pitching 6.0 innings with six hits, three earned runs and four Ks in his first start of the season.
 
The Mountaineers play Upper Iowa at Jack Russell Stadium at 10 a.m. Wednesday.