OZARK HILLS, Mo. — Mission University baseball opened February by hosting the annual Battle in the Hills, a neutral-site event that featured four games in three days, and the Patriots came away with a 3–1 record behind timely power, late-inning offense and strong pitching performances.
Mission opened the weekend with an extra-inning comeback against Baker, dropped a high-scoring contest to Tabor, and then closed the event with back-to-back wins over Briar Cliff and Southwestern Christian.
Baker vs. Mission — Mission 10, Baker 9 (11 innings)
Mission erased multiple deficits and walked off Baker in 11 innings to start the Battle in the Hills.
Baker scored four runs in the first inning, but Mission answered quickly. Sam Golden drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Clay Palen followed with a two-run homer to cut the gap to one.
After Baker added runs in the third and fourth, Mission stayed within striking distance. Golden launched a two-run homer in the fourth, and in the seventh the Patriots tied the game when Collin Miser and Ryan Free hit back-to-back home runs.
Baker plated two in the top of the 11th, but Mission responded in the bottom half. Golden worked a bases-loaded walk to score a run, and Kadean Jacobs lined a two-run single to left to complete the comeback.
Mission finished with 16 hits, led by Golden (3-for-5, three RBI), Trey Mulholland (3-for-6) and Free (3-for-5).
Tabor vs. Mission — Tabor 13, Mission 9
Mission built a lead but could not hold off Tabor in the second game of the event.
Tabor struck first with three runs in the opening inning, but Mission responded behind RBI hits from Palen and Free. After Tabor added two more in the third, Mission surged ahead with a three-run fourth. Free doubled home a run, and Zachary Beatty followed with a two-run double to tie the game.
In the fifth, Free connected on a two-run homer, Beatty was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Mulholland drove in another run to push Mission in front 9–5.
Tabor answered in the sixth with eight runs, highlighted by a three-run homer and a grand slam, flipping the game and securing the 13–9 win.
Free finished 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI, while Beatty drove in three runs.
Briar Cliff vs. Mission — Mission 3, Briar Cliff 1
Pitching and small-ball offense carried Mission in the third game of the Battle in the Hills.
Briar Cliff scored in the first, but Mission tied the game in the third when Palen grounded out to bring home Jacobs.
The Patriots moved ahead in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Beatty, and Mulholland added insurance in the sixth with a solo home run to right.
Mulholland was dominant on the mound, throwing a complete game with seven innings, four hits, one run and five strikeouts to earn the win.
Southwestern Christian vs. Mission — Mission 4, Southwestern Christian 1
Mission closed the event with an early offensive burst and strong pitching.
The Patriots scored all four runs in the first inning. Mulholland opened the scoring with a two-run homer, Palen followed with an RBI double, and a double-play grounder by Free brought home another run.
Southwestern Christian pushed across a run in the fourth, but Mission's pitching staff locked it down. Jude Tenny earned the win after allowing one run over five innings with eight strikeouts. Garrett Hunter recorded the save, striking out the side in the seventh.
Palen went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Mulholland drove in two more with his homer.
Battle in the Hills Notes
Across the neutral-site showcase, Mission combined power with pitching depth. The Patriots homered nine times over four games, with Mulholland, Free, Golden, Palen and Miser all leaving the yard. On the mound, Mission posted wins from Mulholland and Tenny, and Hunter picked up a save to close the weekend.
Mission finished the Battle in the Hills 3–1, gaining momentum heading into the next stretch of the season.
Next Up
Mission continues its early-season schedule at the NAIA Festival in Joplin, Missouri. The Patriots open the event on Friday, Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. against Northwestern College at Joe Becker Stadium.
