JOPLIN, Mo. -- Senior
Jake Kolasinski capped a seven-run rally with a game-winning single in the top of the eighth inning lifting Wisconsin-Parkside to an 11-10 victory over Missouri Southern State in the Rangers season opener on Friday at Turner Field.
Wisconsin-Parkside trailed 10-4 after six innings, but scored four times in the seventh inning and added three more runs in the top of the eighth inning to complete the comeback.
Andrew Luscomb began the Rangers rally in the eighth inning with a one-out triple.
Kyle Schulz brought home Luscomb with an RBI groundout that cut the lead to 10-9.
Kyohei Makita then followed with a home run to right centerfield that tied the game at 10-10.
Following a pitching change,
Zach Thompson drew a walk and stole second base to move into scoring position. Kolasinski then singled up the middle to plate Thompson with what would prove to be the winning run.
The Rangers then turned to the bullpen to nail down the victory.
Matt Skarzynski sailed through the eighth inning, but found trouble in the ninth inning when he allowed a single to Max Hogan and walked Brett Graham.
Keaton Kastberg relieved Skarzynski and struck out the final two batters to earn the save.
Makita had a big day for the Rangers as he belted two home runs and also had a single to finish the game 3-for-5 at the plate.
Nick Janssen had three hits and drove in two runs, while Schulz had two hits and three RBI.
The Rangers, who banged out 15 hits on the day, also got two hits each from Kolasinski and Luscomb. Thompson,
Max Widmar and
Bryan Wade also had base hits for Wisconsin-Parkside.
Wisconsin-Parkside blasted four home runs on the afternoon as Thompson and Schulz also went deep in addition to the two home runs hit by Makita.
Mario Samuel started for the Rangers and struck out five batters in 5.0 innings of work while allowing four earned runs. Skarzynski pitched well in relief as he permitted just one hit in 2.2 innings and struck out two batters to pick up the win.
Wisconsin-Parkside spotted the Lions a 2-0 lead after one inning, but tied the game with a two-run second inning.
Kolasinski led off the frame with a walk and scored when Janssen roped a double to left to cut the lead to 2-1. Widmar followed with a base hit to right that scored Janssen and tied the game at 2-2.
Missouri Southern State, which dropped to 2-1 on the season, regained the lead at 4-2 with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Wisconsin-Parkside answered with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning. Thompson led off the inning with a homer to left that cut the lead to 4-3 and Janssen singled and later scored when Widmar lofted a sacrifice fly to left to knot the game at 4-4.
Missouri Southern State answered with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 10-4 lead.
The Rangers got back into the game by scoring four times in the top of the seventh inning. Wade led off the inning with an infield single and came home to score when Schulz homered to left to cut the lead to 10-6.
Makita made it 10-7 in favor of the Lions when he followed with a homer to left. Thompson and Kolasinski each drew walks and Janssen singled to right center to score Thompson and bring the Rangers to within 10-8.
The series will continue on Saturday (Feb. 11) as the two teams are scheduled for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
